THE 


LIFE 


HARMAN  BLEMERHASSETT. 


COMPBISING 


AN  AUTHENTIC  NARRATIVE  OF  THE 


AND    CONTAINING 

MANY  ADDITIONAL  FACTS  NOT  HERETOFORE  PUBLISHED. 

BY 

WILLIAM  H.  SAFFORD. 


CHILLICOTHE,  0. 

ELY,   ALLEN   &   LOOKER 
1850. 


Entered  according  to  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1850,  by 

WILLIAM   H.    SAFFORD, 
in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  District  of  Ohio. 


STEREOTYPED  BY  L.  JOHNSON  AND  CO. 
PHILADELPHIA. 


PEEPACB. 


WHILE  collecting  materials  for  the  present  biogra 
phy,  I  have  met  with  unexpected  difficulties  in  pro 
curing  authentic  information  from  the  contemporaries 
of  Blennerhassett.  This  is  to  be  accounted  for  in  the 
plain  simplicity  of  most  of  his  neighbours,  who  took 
but  little  interest  in  his  scientific  pursuits — of  which 
they  could  neither  understand  the  philosophy,  nor  com 
prehend  the  meaning.  The  consequence  was,  they 
associated  but  little  with  the  man,  and  their  acquaint 
ance  was  derived  more  from  what  they  saw,  than  from 
what  they  heard. 

It  gives  me  pleasure  to  acknowledge  the  courtesy  of 
Dr.  S.  P.  HILDRETH,  of  Marietta,  in  permitting  me 
the  use  of  the  various  historical  incidents  which  his 
assiduity  and  love  of  the  curious  have  rescued  from 
oblivion.  From  the  Blennerhassett  Papers,  published 
by  WILLIAM  WALLACE,  Esq.,  I  have  made  liberal  quo 
tations.  To  Maj.  HORACE  NYE,  of  Putnam,  and  Col. 

1*  5 

M124596 


PREFACE. 


JOSEPH  BARKER,  of  Newport,  I  am  alike  indebted  for 
much  valuable  matter — rendered  more  interesting  from 
the  fact  that  they  were  eye-witnesses  of  some  of  the 
scenes  I  have  attempted  to  describe.  Others  have 
furnished  me  with  materials ;  but  the  multiplicity  of 
their  names  must  excuse  their  non-appearance. 

I  have  been  careful  to  introduce  nothing,  as  fact, 
but  what  has  been  fully  corroborated  by  living  wit 
nesses.  Nor  have  I  attempted  to  screen  from  the 
public  eye  the  infirmities  or  faults  of  the  subjects  of 
these  pages ;  while,  at  the  same  time,  I  can  truly  say, 
their  virtues  have  not  been  exaggerated. 

The  work  is  now  submitted  to  a  charitable  public, 
with  a  knowledge  of  its  many  imperfections.  More 
skilful  hands  might  have  avoided  many  faults  with 
which  I  am  justly  chargeable,  and  rendered  it  far  more 
palatable  to  the  reading  critic. 

THE  AUTHOR. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PAGB 
EARLY  life  of  Blennerhassett — Lineage — Education — The  Irish 

bar — Blennerhassett  commences  the  study  of  law — Called  to 
the  bar — Certificate — Makes  a  visit  upon  the  Continent — 
France — Witnesses  the  adoption  of  her  new  Constitution — 
Keturns  to  Ireland — Spirit  of  discontent  in  Ireland — Oppressed 
by  England — Effect  of  the  American  Revolution  on  Ireland — 
On  the  whole  of  Europe — Repeal  of  the  statute  of  sixth  George 
First — Blennerhassett  prefers  the  quiet  pursuits  of  literature 
to  the  political  arena — Is  dissatisfied  with  Ireland,  and  deter 
mines  to  leave — Disposes  of  his  lands — Proceeds  to  England — 
Addresses  Miss  Agnew — Marries — Reflections 19 


CHAPTEK  II. 

Blennerhassett  supplies  himself  with  a  library  and  philosophical 
apparatus — Ships  for  New  York — Western  country  described 
— Blennerhassett  sets  out  for  the  West — Pittsburgh — Mode 
of  travelling — Marietta — Is  desirous  of  building — Backus's 
Island — Blennerhassett  concludes  a  purchase — Commences 
improvements — Island  with  its  improvements — Reflections....  30 

7 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  III. 

PAGE 
Blenncrhassett  described — Studies — Amusements — Anecdotes  of 

— Appointed  justice  of  the  peace — Mrs.  Blennerhassett  de 
scribed 40 


CHAPTER  IV. 

S  Early  settlers  of  Western  Virginia — Occupations — Amusements 
— Patriotism — First  settlers  of  Ohio — Industry — Economy 
— Morality — Conclusion.., 49 


CHAPTER  V. 

Domestic  situation  of  Blennerhassett  in  1805 — Burr's  first  visit 
to  the  island — Object  of  Burr's  tour — Finds  Blennerhassett 
absent  from  home — Proceeds  down  the  Ohio — Visits  Wl  Mi- 
son — Conference — Blennerhassett  visits  New  York — Thomas 
Addis  Emmett — Burr's  first  communication  to  Blennerhassett 
— Effect  of,  upon  Blennerhassett — Blennerhassett's  answer — 
Burr's  reply — Burr's  second  visit  to  the  island — Wirt's  descrip 
tion  of  the  island  as  it  was  at  that  time — Burr  commences 
recruiting  men  for  the  expedition — Arguments  made  use  of  to 
induce  individuals  to  j  oin — Effect  of  his  arguments 58 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Preparations  for  the  expedition  commenced — Burr's  visit  to  Chil- 
licothe — Cincinnati — Kentucky — Alston  arrives  at  the  island — 
Alston  with  his  wife  and  Blennerhassett  visits  Lexington,  Ky. 
— Blennerhassett  is  introduced  to  Charles  Fenton  Mercer — 
Suspicious  aspect  of  the  expedition — Situation  of  affairs  in  the 
United  States — Apprehensions  of  the  people — Rumours — Gra- 


CONTENTS.  9 

FAOB 
ham  appointed  a  secret  agent  of  the  government — Instructions 

— Tpafrii^jjrmg^i nflp.n_3Ti  1  kijiarm — ^Wilkinsqn  demands  forces  of 
the  Governor  of  Mississippi  Territory — Is  refused — Despatches 
Burling  to  Mexico — Holds  a  conference  with  Governor  Clai- 
borne  at  New  Orleans — Merchants  of  New  Orleans  convoked 
— Preparations  at  New  Orleans — Blennerhassett  sets  out  from 
Kentucky  for  home — Meets  with  Mr.  Mercer — Conversation — 
Burr's  designs  explained — Blennerhassett  is  joined  Tby  Burr  at 
the  island — Burr  leaves  the  supervision  of  the  boats  to  Blen 
nerhassett  and  returns  to  Kentucky — Is  arrested — Graham  ar 
rives  at  Marietta — Interview  with  Blennerhassett — Visits  the 
Governor  of  Ohio  at  Chillicothe — Act  of  the  Ohio  Legislature — 
Militia  of  the  State  called  out — Anecdotes — Mercer's  visit  to 
the  island — Arrival  of  Comfort  Tyler  and  his  men — Find  Blen 
nerhassett  disheartened  as  to  the  feasibility  of  the  enterprise.  74 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Burr  despatches  Swartwout  to  ^VTlkinson — Letter — Wilkinson 
communicates  its  substance  to  the  President — Proclamation  of 
the  President — Virginia  militia  called  out  under  command  of 
Col.  Hugh  Phelps — Blennerhassett  escapes  with  Tyler  and  his 
forces  down  the  Ohio — Phelps  proceeds  to  the  island — Finds  it 
deserted — Ineffectual  attempt  to  arrest  Blennerhassett  at  Point 
Pleasant — Effect  of  the  President's  Proclamation  trusted  to  for 
some  time  in  the  State  of  Tennessee — But  similar  instructions 
sent  to  that  State  also — Graham  leaves  Frankfort  for  Nashville 
— The  movements  of  Burr — Kentucky  militia  ordered  out — 
Burr's  flotilla — Burr  leaves  the  Cumberland — Lands  at  Fort 
Massac — Is  visited  by  the  commander.  Captain  Bissel — Sup 
plies  Burr  with  a  messenger  to  convey  a  letter  to  the  Lead 
Mines  in  Missouri — His  wife  presents  Burr  with  provisions — 
Burr  and  his  party  proceed  to  Chickasaw  Bluffs — Has  an  in 
terview  with  the  commander,  Lieutenant  Jacob  Jackson — Fails 
in  his  designs — Communication  of  the^PresidejotJo^Wilkinspn 
— Burr  supplies  himself  with  lead,  tomahawks,  &c.,  and  pro 
ceeds  to  Palmyra,  and  thence  to  Bayou  Pierre 95 


10  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

PAGB 
Morgan  Neville,  and  William  Robinson,  Junior — Embark  from 

Pittsburgh  in  a  flat-boat — Espied  by  the  Wood  county  militia 
and  arrested — Escorted  to  the  island  to  await  the  return  of 
Col.  Phelps — Difficulties  with  the  militia — Trial  of  the  young 
men — Conduct  of  the  militia  on  the  island — Mrs.  Blennerhas- 
sett's  return  from  Marietta — Her  fortitude  on  the  occasion — 
Embarrassed  situation — Accepts  the  offer  of  the  young  men  to 
convey  her  to  her  husband — Col.  Phelps's  return  to  the  island 
— Young  men  embarrassed  at  the  announcement  of  his  arrival 
— Character  and  description  of  Col.  Phelps — Rebukes  the  mi 
litia  for  their  riotous  conduct — His  politeness  to  the  young 
men — Proffers  his  services  in  accelerating  Mrs.  Blennerhas- 
sett's  arrangement  to  go  to  her  husband — Apologizes  for  the 
misbehaviour  of  his  men — Mrs.  Blennerhassett  prepares  to 
depart — Leaves  the  island  in  company  with  the  young  men — 
Passes  the  mouth  of  the  Cumberland — Disappointed  in  not 
finding  her  husband — Arrives  at  Bayou  Pierre,  and  is  restored 
to  Blennerhassett — Painful  situation  of  Burr  and  Blennerhas 
sett — Burr  sinks  the  arms,  for  the  expedition,  in  the  Missis 
sippi 110 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Proclamation  of  Cowles  Mead  acting  as  Governor  of  the  Missis 
sippi  Territory — Burr's  reply — The  boats  are  visited  by 
George  Poindexter,  Attorney-General  for  the  Territory — Ob 
ject  of  the  visit — A  letter  from  the  acting  Governor — Burr's 
avowals — Poindexter  requests  his  peaceable  surrender — Burr 
declares  his  willingness — An  interview  with  the  acting  Go 
vernor  the  next  day  is  agreed  upon — Terms  of  the  agreement 
— Burr  accordingly  surrenders  himself — Terms  of  his  final  sur 
render — He  is  conveyed  to  the  town  of  Washington — Examina 
tion  before  Judge  Rodney — Poindexter  called  on  for  his 
opinion — It  is  given — Judge  Rodney  dissents — A  grand  jury 
is  required  to  be  summoned  to  an  adjourned  session  of  the 


CONTENTS.  11 

PAGE 

Supreme  Court  of  the  Mississippi  Territory — Grand  jury  as 
sembled — Motion  to  discharge — Overruled — Presentments  by 
the  grand  jury — Acquitting  Burr— Present  the  calling  out  of 
the  militia  of  the  Territory  as  a  grievance — Also  late  military 
arrests — Astonishment  of  the  Attorney-General — Leaves  the 
court  room — Judge  Rodney  displeased — Burr  asks  to  be  dis 
charged  from  his  recognisance — Is  refused — Disguises  him 
self  and  escapes — Reward  offered — Suspicious  circumstance 
— Burr's  men  are  placed  under  guard — Arrests  at  Fort  Adams 
and  New  Orleans — Gonduc^of  Wilkinson — Treatment  of  Gen. 
Adair — Attempt  to  suspend  the  writ  of  "Habeas  Corpus" — 
Wilkinson's  contempt  of  the  writs  of  Habeas  Corpus — Judge 
Workman's  recommendation  to  the  Governor — Workman  be 
comes  dissatisfied  with  the  Governor — Resigns  his  office — 
Return  of  Burling  from  Mexico — Object  of  his  visit — Recep 
tion  of  Burling  by  the  Viceroy  of  Mexico — Leaves  Mexico  in 
haste — Lieutenant  Swan  returns  from  Jamaica  with  letter 
from  Admiral  Drake — Conveyance  of  prisoners  to  Washington 
and  Baltimore — Their  discharge 119 


CHAPTER  X. 

Burr's  arrival  in  the  village  of  Wakefield,  Alabama — Inquires 
for  Colonel  Hinson's — His  conduct  excites  suspicion — He  is 
pursued  by  Nicholas  Perkins  and  Brightwell,  the  Sheriff — Is 
found  at  Hinson's — His  agreeableness — Suspicions  of  the 
Sheriff — Mrs.  Hinson's  inquisitiveness — His  departure  from 
Hinson's — Delinquency  of  Brightwell — Perkins  sets  out  for 
Fort  Stoddard  to  procure  assistance  of  Lieutenant  Edmund 
P.  Gaines — They  start  in  pursuit — Burr  is  arrested — His  im 
prisonment  at  the  Fort — Kindness  to  George  S.  Gaines — 
Amusements  at  the  Fort — Burr's  travelling  companion,  Major 
Ashley,  arrested,  and  escapes — Difficulties  in  procuring  a 
guard  to  convey  Burr  to  Richmond — Burr  leaves  the  Fort 
under  guard — Sympathy  of  the  ladies — Guard — Perkins  fears 
the  influence  of  Burr — Particulars  of  the  journey — Burr  at 
tempts  to  escape  at  Chester — Is  unsuccessful — Arrives  at 
Richmond,  Virginia , 135 


12  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XI. 

PAGE 
Blennerhassett  sets  out  from  Natchez  to   visit  his  island  — 

Tarries  at  Lexington,  Kentucky  —  Arrested  by  the  authorities 

—  Mrs.  Blennerhassett's  letter  —  Defended  by  the  Hon.  Henry 
Clay  —  Is  unsuccessful  in  procuring  his  discharge  —  Is  con 
ducted  to  Eichmond  —  Postponement  of  the  trials  of  Burr  and 
his  accused  confederates  —  Trial  of  Burr  commenced  —  Court 
and  bar  —  Verdict  of  acquittal  by  the  jury  —  Burr's  arraign 
ment  on  an  indictment  for  a  misdemeanor  —  Acquittal  —  Ex 
tracts  from  Blennerhassett's  journal  kept  during  the  trial  — 
Extracts  from  the  private  memoranda  —  Chief  Justice  Marshall 

—  Luther  Martin  —  William  Wirt  —  Aaron  Burr  .....................  153 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Origin  of  the  Burr  expedition  —  Miranda's  visit   in  1797-8— 
His  o^e^t—  propositions  favourably  received  —  Visits  England 

—  Receives  encouragement  from  the  British  ministry  —  Mode 
of  arranging  forces  for  the  subjugation  of  the  South  Ame 
rican  colonies  —  His  plans  are  defeated  by  the  elder  Adams  — 
Burr  conceives  the  plan  of  the  subjugation  of  Mexico  —  Aus 
picious  circumstances  —  Encouragement  received  from  distin 
guished  characters  —  Wilkinson'sjoid  proffered  —  His  counsel 

—  Daniel  Clark  —  General  Jackson  —  Effect  of  the  adjustment 
of  the  Spanish  difficulties  upon  those  who  at  first  favoured 
the  expedition  —  Burr's  indomitable  perseverance  —  Treacher 
ous  conduct  of  Wilkinson  —  Effect  of  Burr's  acquittal  upon  the 
public  mind  —  Character  of  Burr  —  Belief  that  Jefferson  tacitly 
assented  to  the  expedition  —  Circumstances  which  induce  that 

_7n^:;~^r^7.».;,».:.:.  .....  174 


CHAPTER,  XHI. 

Blennerhassett  returns  to  Natchez  after  the  trial  —  His  pecu 
niary  embarrassments  —  Sacrifice  and  abuse  of  his  property  — 
His  complacency  —  Demands  indemnity  for  his  losses  from 


CONTENTS.  13 

PAGE 

Gov.  Alston — Purchases  a  farm  in  Mississippi,  and  commences 
the  culture  of  cotton — Mrs.  Blennerhassett's  assistance — Flat 
tering  prospects — Effects  of  the  embargo — Receives  the  intel 
ligence  of  the  burning  of  his  mansion 187 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Blennerhassett's  prospects  declining — Is  offered  a  judgeship  by 
the  Governor  of  Canada — Sells  his  estates — Removes  to  Mon 
treal — Mrs.  Blennerhassett's  poetry,  "  The  Deserted  Isle" — 
Blennerhassett  again  disappointed — Determines  to  prosecute 
a  claim  subsisting  in  Ireland — Sails  for  Ireland — Reflections 
— Applies  to  Lord  Anglesey  for  office — Letter  of  Mr.  Gossett — 
Is  again  disappointed — Removes  to  the  island  of  Guernsey 
—Death 195 

CHAPTER  XY. 

Remarks  on  the  life  of  Blennerhassett — Mrs.  Blennerhassett's 
destitute  situation — Resolves  to  visit  the  United  States  to 
procure  indemnity  for  spoiliations — The  reasonableness  of 
such  a  demand — Visits  New  York — Presents  her  petition  to 
Congress — Petition — Robert  Emmett's  aid — Letter  to  Mr. 
Clay — Mr.  Clay  presents  the  petition — Report  of  the  Hon. 
William  Woodbridge — Death  of  Mrs.  Blennerhassett — Is  buried 
by  Irish  females 203 


APPENDIX. 


I.  MBS.  THEADOSIA  BURR  ALSTON 211 


II.  SECRET  CORRESPONDENCE 214 


III.  THE  BATTLE  OF  MUSKINGUM,  OR  DEFEAT  OF  THE  BURRITES..  218 


IV.  BRIEF  OF  BLENNERHASSETT 223 


INTKODUCTIOK 


NEARLY  fifty  years  since,  the  inhabitants  of  the 
valley  of  the  Ohio  were  gratified  by  the  intelligence 
that  an  individual  of  rank  and  fortune  had  renounced 
allegiance  to  his  father-land,  to  take  up  his  abode 
among  them.  In  those  primitive  days,  every  addition 
to  the  little  band  of  early  pioneers  was  deemed  of  some 
importance;  but  the  accession  of  one  whose  manners 
and  customs  differed  so  widely  from  their  own — who 
could  build  and  adorn  a  palace  in  the  western  wilds — 
was  considered  an  event  of  wonderful  magnitude. 

With  satisfaction  they  beheld  the  first  germs  of 
civilization  springing  from  beneath  the  plastic  hand  of 
taste,  and  bursting  into  full  maturity  through  the 
genial  influence  of  wealth.  This  western  Eden,  while 
it  captivated  their  eyes  with  its  beauty,  amazed  their 
minds  with  the  resources  of  its  possessor.  They  wit 
nessed  the  accomplishment  of  his  ends  in  the  subjuga 
tion  of  nature  to  his  will;  saw  "the  desert  bloom  and 

15 


1C  INTRODUCTION. 

blossom  as  the  rose;"  stood  as  anxious  spectators  when 
the  whirlwind  of  popular  prejudice  and  passion  pros 
trated  the  hopes  and  blasted  the  happiness  of  his 
household;  and  wept  for  the  desolation  which  suc 
ceeded. 

Since  the  celebrated  expedition  of  Aaron  Burr,  the 
earlier  fortunes  of  Blennerhassett  have  been  the  sub 
ject  of  singular  curiosity.  Many  have  been  the  sur 
mises  as  to  the  causes  which  led  the  descendant  of 
European  nobility,  to  renounce  the  hereditary  honours 
consequent  upon  family,  for  the  secluded  life  of  an 
unpretending  republican.  Some  attribute  it  to  an 
early  alliance  with  a  lady  whose  fortune  and  rank  were 
unequal  to  those  of  his  own ;  others  to  a  want  of  success 
as  a  member  of  the  Irish  bar ;  while  the  uncharitable 
are  anxious  to  throw  around  the  subject  conjectures  of 
the  darkest  character. 

The  mystery  which  surrounds  him  and  his  "island 
home"  has  served,  for  more  than  forty  years,  to  enter 
tain  the  passing  traveller,  as,  upon  the  bosom  of  the 
Ohio,  the  latter  glides  by  the  spot  where  once  stood 
the  American  Alhambra.  The  marvellous  stories  of 
Spain — of  Moslem  enchantment  and  Moorish  gold — 
#re  scarce  less  credible  than  the  tales  at  such  times 
repeated  to  the  attentive  ear  of  the  listener. 

Memory  reverts  with  fond  delight  to  the  earlier  days 
of  our  youthful  pastimes,  when,  strolling  through  the 


INTRODUCTION.  17 

embowered  coppices  of  the  isle,  seated  beneath  the 
vine-clad  cotton-tree,  or  gathering  pebbles  on  the 
beach,  the  stern  realities  of  life  were  forgotten ;  and, 
in  the  wild  exuberance  of  our  youthful  fancy,  we 
breathed  to  the  image  of  our  heart's  first  love  the  lan 
guage  of  impassioned  adoration.  Around  the  name  of 
Blennerhassett,  and  every  thing  connected  with  it,  was 
waved  the  enchanting  wand  of  romance;  and  tales  of 
beauty,  of  splendour,  and  of  crime,  while  they  fascinated 
us  with  their  witchery,  startled  us  with  his  deep  and 
dark  designs. 

Who  Blennerhasset  truly  was,  and  what  his  origin 
and  destiny,  it  is  our  object  to  disclose.  "We  hope  to 
strip  the  subject  of  that  mysteriousness  which  igno 
rance,  wilful  prejudice,  or  a  love  of  the  marvellous 
has  thrown  around  it,  and  reveal  to  the  inquiring 
reader  the  acts  and  character  of  the  man. 


LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Early  life  of  Blennerhassett — Lineage — Education — The  Irish  bar — 
Blennerhassett  commences  the  study  of  law — Called  to  the  bar — 
Certificate — Makes  a  visit  upon  the  Continent — France — Wit 
nesses  the  adoption  of  her  new  Constitution — Eeturns  to  Ireland 
— Spirit  of  discontent  in  Ireland — Oppressed  by  England — Effect 
of  the  American  Revolution  on  Ireland — On  the  whole  of  Europe 
— Repeal  of  the  statute  of  sixth  George  First — Blennerhassett 
prefers  the  quiet  pursuits  of  literature  to  the  political  arena — Is 
dissatisfied  with  Ireland,  and  determines  to  leave — Disposes  of  his 
lands — Proceeds  to  England — Addresses  Miss  Agnew — Marries — 
Reflections. 

OF  the  early  life  of  Blennerhassett  we  know, 
and  therefore  shall  say,  but  little.  That  he  was 
the  son  of  an  Irish  gentleman,  and  was  born  in 
Hampshire,  England,  while  the  family  were  on 
a  temporary  visit  to  some  friend  or  relative,  in 
the  year  1767,  we  are  authentically  informed. 
He  might  have  boasted  a  lineage,  which,  although 
not  noble,  was,  nevertheless,  among  the  most 

19 


20  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

illustrious  of  the  Irish  gentry. *  Whether  the 
boy  ever  exhibited  any  thing  above  the  capacity 
of  boys  of  his  age,, — or  whether,  on  the  contrary, 
he  was  considered  a  silent,  dull,  and  uninterest 
ing  youth, — wre  know  not;  but  that  he  enjoyed 
most  excellent  literary  advantages,  is  clearly 
established  by  the  fact  that,  at  early  age,  he  was 
placed  by  his  father  in  the  celebrated  school  of 
Westminster;  that,  after  he  had  struggled,  in 
honourable  emulation,  with  the  many  worthies 
who  have  since  so  brilliantly  adorned  both  the 
English  and  Irish  nations,  he  was  entered  at 
Trinity  College,  Dublin,  where  he  graduated, 
with  honour  to  himself  and  credit  to  his  pro 
fessors. 

At  that    time  the  Irish  bar — a  body  formi 
dable  to  the  then  existing  government,  by  their 


*  Dr.  S.  P.  Hildreth,  in  a  Sketch  of  the  Life  of  Blennerhassett, 
published  in  the  "American  Review,"  in  1848,  states  that  Blenner- 
liassett  -was  of  "  noble  descent."  William  Wallace,  Esq.,  on  the  con 
trary,  who  had  access  to  a  portion  of  his  papers,  and  who  also 
published  a  sketch  of  the  same  individual,  in  the  same  periodical,  in 
the  year  1845,  describes  his  parentage  as  among  the  most  distin 
guished  of  the  gentry  of  Ireland,  who  could  trace  their  lineage  as  far 
back  as  the  English  King  John.  "  The  family  consisted  of  branches 
located  in  the  counties  of  Cork  and  Kerry.  Many  of  the  ancient 
heads  were  the  chiefs  of  Balaceady  Castle,  and  held  numerous  im 
portant  offices.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  belonged  to  the  Bala 
ceady  branch."  I  have  chosen  to  adopt  Mr.  Wallace  as,  perhaps,  the 
best  informed  author  on  this  point,  he  having  had  access  to  some  of 
Blcnnerhassctt's  papers,  through  the  courtesy  of  a  son  of  the  latter. 


CALLED  TO  THE  BAR,  21 

character  and  capacity — comprised  many  sons 
of  the  resident  noblemen  and  commoners  of 
Ireland.  The  legal  science  was  not  then  a  mere 
trade,  but  a  profession,  requiring  both  learning 
and  time  to  master  its  abstruse  truths.  Elo 
quence  was  looked  upon  as  a  qualification  for 
the  higher  duties  of  the  senate,  and  almost 
every  peer  and  commoner  had  a  relative  en 
rolled  among  the  number. 

That  Blennerhassett  should  remain  an  excep 
tion  to  the  general  custom,  was  hardly  to  be 
expected;  and,  accordingly,  we  find  him  snugly 
ensconced  in  the  King's  Inns  as  an  entered  ap 
prentice  in  the  study  of  the  law.  How  success 
fully  he  waded  through  the  musty  tomes  of 
black  letter,  which  crowd  that  ancient  library, 
is  evidenced  by  the  significant  appendage  of 
LL.D.,  which  occasionally  accompanied  his 
name. 

At  Michaelmas  term,  in  1790,  he  was  called 
to  the  bar,  as  is  shown  by  the  following  certifi 
cate  :* — 

"KING'S  INNS.  These  are  to  certify,  that 
Harman  Blennerhassett,  Esq.,  was,  in  Michael 
mas  term,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  ninety,  generally  admitted 

*  Wallace. 


22  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

into  the  Honourable  Society  of  the  King's  Inns, 
and  called  to  the  degree  of  Barrister  therein. 
IN  TESTIMONY  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  affixed 
the  seal  of  said  Society  this  eighteenth  day  of 
November,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thou 
sand  seven  hundred  and  ninety-five. 

"  WM.  CALDBECK,  Treas.     [L.S.] 
"Witness,  John  CooJc,  Sul-Treas" 

Blennerhassett  declined  entering  upon  the 
duties  of  his  profession  until  he  had  made  a 
tour  upon  the  continent. 

France  then  presented,  both  to  the  philoso 
pher  and  politician,  superior  attractions  over 
any  of  her  sister  kingdoms.  At  the  period  of 
Blennerhassett's  visit  she  had  been  rocked  by 
the  whirlwind  of  revolution ;  and  the  established 
despotism  of  her  military  monarchs  had  been 
crumbled  into  atoms.  The  massive  structure 
of  the  Bastile,  which  had  stood  four  hundred 
years,  every  stone  of  which  was  wet  with  the 
tears  and  echoed  the  groans  of  four  centuries 
of  oppression,  had  been  torn  from  its  summit  to 
its  foundation,  by  the  infuriated  advocates  of 
popular  freedom.  On  the  anniversary  of  its 
destruction,  Louis  Sixteenth,  with  thirty  thou 
sand  delegates  from  the  confederated  National 
Guards  of  the  kingdom,  in  the  presence  of  five 


FRANCE— IRELAND.  23 

hundred  thousand  of  their  countrymen,  had 
taken  the  oath  of  fidelity  to  the  nation,  to  the 
Constitution,  and,  all  save  the  monarch  himself, 
to  the  king.  But  France  was  still  trembling 
from  the  convulsions  of  her  people.  Her  recu 
perating  energies  were  starting  afresh,  on  a  new 
system  of  government,  which  had  not  yet  gained 
either  the  confidence  or  affection  of  her  subjects. 
Having  witnessed  the  adoption  of  these  new 
measures,  with  doubts  of  their  ultimate  success, 
Blennerhassett  returned  to  his  own  country,  in 
time  to  escape  the  storm  which  prostrated  the 
hopes  of  the  friends  of  the  new  constitution, 
and  destroyed  the  life  of  the  unfortunate  Louis. 
The  same  spirit  of  discontent  which  prevailed 
in  France  had  extended  to  Ireland.  For  centu 
ries  had  she  groaned  under  the  oppression  of 
successive  English  monarchs.  Her  submission 
to  the  sceptres  of  Henry  and  of  Richard  had 
been  construed  into  the  right  of  conquest ;  and 
they  sought  to  crush  the  native  spirit  of  her 
people,  by  fomenting  discord  and  exercising 
tyranny.  Ireland  had  been  blessed  with  a 
genial  soil.  Nature  had  lavished  her  brightest 
gifts  upon  her.  The  native  character  of  her 
population  was  not  inferior  to  that  of  other  na 
tions.  But,  of  what  avail  were  fertile  fields, 
or  gigantic  intellects  and  towering  talent,  when 


24  LIFE  OF  BLENNERIIASSETT. 

national  disorganization  and  political  faction 
perverted  the  gifts  of  Providence  to  selfish  pur- 
poses,  or  destroyed  their  usefulness,  in  the  gene 
ral  wreck  of  distracted  governments  and  divided 
subjects  ?  Her  manufacturing  interest  and 
commercial  enterprise  struggled  long  against 
the  monopoly  of  England;  but  the  superior 
power  of  her  ruler  enabled  her  to  check  their 
prosperity,  by  the  heavy  hand  of  arbitrary 
restraint.  A  deplorable  want  of  union  of  senti 
ment  and  firmness  of  purpose,  at  all  times  pre 
vented  a  successful  separation  from  her  powerful 
oppressor;  and  every  attempt  to  claim  her  in 
dependence  proved  vain  and  abortive. 

Thus,  for  ages,  has  Ireland,  as  the  captive  in 
his  gloomy  cell,  awaked  at  times  as  from  a 
troubled  dream,  to  behold,  with  longing  eyes, 
the  dawn  of  the  day  of  her  emancipation ;  but, 
finding  the  darkness  still  prevailing,  gave  her 
self  again  to  slumber,  that  she  might  the  more 
readily  forget  her  situation. 

England,  fearful  of  her  growing  strength, 
sought  to  subdue  her  spirit,  by  onerous  exac 
tions,  and  denying  her  the  privilege  of  a  free 
legislature.  Not  only  against  Ireland  had  she 
exercised  her  arbitrary  will,  but  also  against 
the  colonies  of  her  planting  in  North  America. 
Vain  in  the  conceit  of  her  imperial  power,  she 


STATE  OF  IRELAND.  25 

dared  to  exact  obedience  from  peoples  separated 
by  the  wide  Atlantic,  and  command  the  same 
submission  with  which  the  oppressed  subjects 
of  Ireland  had  yielded.  While  her  experimental 
philosophy  had  taught  her  that  to  retain  her 
authority  she  must  exercise  tyranny,  she  had 
not  reflected  that  there  was  a  point  in  the 
system  of  her  oppression,  where  submission  to 
the  will  of  an  unyielding  despot  ceased  to  be  a 
virtue. 

The  spirit  of  independence  was  hovering  over 
the  bloody  altar  of  the  American  Revolution, 
when  Ireland  again  awoke  to  a  sense  of  her  own 
condition.  She  gazed  with  animated  delight  at 
the  increasing  success  of  American  arms.  Every 
new  victory  found  a  sympathetic  influence,  re 
sponding  with  joy,  in  the  secret  recesses  of  her 
own  bosom.  The  feeble  colonies  of  America, 
spread  over  a  vast  extent  of  territory,  with  but 
few  facilities  for  conducting  a  war ;  with  a  hos 
tile  Indian  enemy  in  their  rear,  and  the  boasted 
chivalry  of  England  at  their  front;  undis 
mayed  by  difficulty  or  the  fear  of  defeat,  after 
seven  years  of  war,  were  finally  victorious.  The 
arrogance  of  England  bowed  its  proud  head  to 
the  shrine  of  liberty ;  and  Lord  Cornwallis,  her 
favourite  general,  led  back  the  relics  of  her  con 
quered  army,  to  commemorate,  in  the  mother 


26  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

country,  the  importance  of  her  power,  and  the 
emancipation  of  her  colonies. 

Before  they  had  well  considered  the  reason 
of  their  solicitude,  the  same  spirit  of  independ 
ence  had  animated  the  Irish  bosom;  and,  in 
every  corner  of  her  territory,  the  fire  of  liberty 
burst  forth,  in  a  blaze  that  threatened  equal 
destruction  to  British  usurpation  and  kingly 
government.  The  nation  became  aroused.  Eng 
lish  influence  and  English  interests  secured 
partisans  in  church  and  state ;  and  opposing 
factions,  from  their  intolerance  and  party  ani 
mosity,  had  already  commenced  the  Irish  revo 
lution. 

The  success  of  the  cause  of  liberty  in  the 
American  colonies,  affected,  most  sensibly,  the 
whole  of  Europe.  It  appeared,  indeed,  as 
though  the  fiat  had  gone  forth,  that  monarchies 
and  despotisms  were  for  ever  to  cease  from 
among  men.  "  Strange  and  unforeseen  events 
were  crowding  the  annals  of  the  world; — the 
established  axioms  of  general  polity  began  to 
lose  their  weight  among  nations ; — and  govern 
ments,  widely  wandering  from  the  fundamental 
principles  of  their  own  constitutions,  appeared 
carelessly  travelling  the  road  to  ruin." 

Such  was  the  state  of  Europe ;  presenting  an 
aspect  not  unlike  that  upon  which  we,  of  later 


LITERARY  INCLINATIONS.  27 

days,  have  gazed,  (and  to  which  we  still  look, 
with  feelings  of  solicitude  and  hope,)  when 
Blennerhassett  left  the  unhappy  shores  of 
France,  for  those,  not  less  miserable,  of  his  na 
tive  country. 

Ireland,  it  is  true,  from  the  helpless  situation 
of  England,  at  a  time  when  her  foreign  wars 
and  hapless  defeats  had  exhausted  the  re 
sources  of  that  powerful  nation,  had  successfully 
demanded  the  repeal  of  the  statute  of  sixth 
George  First,  entitled  "An  Act  for  the  better 
securing  the  dependency  of  the  kingdom  of  Ire 
land  upon  the  crown  of  Great  Britain;"  but 
her  situation  was  not  less  distracted  than  before. 

Although  it  was  difficult  to  keep  aloof  from 
the  entangling  snares  of  party  strife,  Blenner 
hassett  chose  rather  to  pursue  the  more  flowery 
paths  of  literature  than  the  sterner  and  more 
rugged  way  of  political  preferment.  To  a  mind 
which  sought  within  itself  for  sources  of  enjoy 
ment,  the  bustle  and  hurricane  which  reigned 
around  served  to  distract  his  meditations,  and 
interrupt  the  pleasure  which,  in  seclusion,  he 
had  hoped  to  find. 

Being  the  possessor  of  an  estate,  with  consi 
derable  additional  fortune  inherited  at  the  death 
of  his  father,  he  determined  no  longer  to  remain 
in  Ireland,  subjected  to  the  inconvenience  and 


28  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

danger  which  usually  attend  the  feuds  of  fac 
tion;  but,  in  some  more  remote  and  peaceful 
region,  where  the  noise  of  the  infuriated  mob 
and  war's  dread  clamour  were  never  heard,  he 
hoped  to  spend  a  life  of  repose. 

He  accordingly  disposed  of  his  lands  to  his 
relative,  Baron  Ventry,*  and  made  immediate 
preparation  for  departing.  Having  closed  his 
business,  he  started  for  England,  where  his  two 
married  sisters — one  the  consort  of  Lord  King- 
gale,  the  other  of  Admiral  De  Courcy — at  that 
time  resided.*)* 

While  here  he  frequently  met  with,  and 
finally  became  affianced  to,  a  Miss  Agnew, 
daughter  of  the  Lieutenant-governor  of  the  Isle 
of  Man,  and  grand-daughter  of  the  celebrated 
general  of  that  name,  who  fell  at  the  battle  of 
Germantown.  She  was  young,  intelligent,  and 
beautiful.  Possessed  of  an  uncommon  degree 
of  energy,  linked  to  a  temperament  of  romantic 
ardour,  she  listened,  with  captivated  delight,  to 
the  fairy  stories  he  repeated,  of  the  far-off  land 
in  the  Western  World.  It  is  not,  therefore,  a 


*  Those  who  hare  spoken  of  this  gentleman  before,  in  connection 
•with  Blennerhassett,  erroneously  style  him  Lord  Ventry. 

f  In  this  statement  I  follow  the  lead  of  Dr.  Hildreth  and  Mr. 
Wallace ;  but  as  Lord  Kingsale  was  also  Admiral  De  Courcy,  I  am 
of  opinion  there  was  but  one  "  sister"  implicated. 


REFLECTIONS.  29 

matter  of  surprise  that  she  consented  to  join  her 
destinies  with  his,  in  the  relation  of  husband 
and  wife ;  and,  as  the  partner  of  his  joys,  and 
the  solace  of  his  cares,  to  say,  as  Kuth  to  Naomi : 
"  Whither  thou  goest  I  will  go ;  and  where  thou 
lodgest  I  will  lodge;  thy  people  shall  be  my 
people,  and  thy  God  my  God.  Where  thou 
diest  will  I  die,  and  there  will  I  be  buried." 

Upon  the  precarious  sea  of  life,  almost  with 
out  compass  or  chart,  Blennerhassett  had  now 
launched  his  adventurous  barque.  The  sudden 
truth  flashed  across  his  mind,  that  he,  too,  was 
an  adventurer ;  not,  however,  for  the  gold  of 
Peru,  for  discoveries  in  the  material  world,  or 
the  subjugation  of  a  foreign  power.  Gold,  and 
honour,  and  station,  were  already  his :  but 
these,  compared  to  the  revelation  of  truth  in 
the  great  volume  of  nature,  to  the  inquiring 
mind,  which  sought  to  unfold  her  hidden  mys 
teries,  were  but  as  "  sounding  brass  and  tinkling 
cymbal." 

To  him,  that  sea  appeared  serene  and  safe, 
with  no  adverse  winds  to  interrupt  his  onward 
course ;  while,  in  the  dim  distance  of  imagina 
tion,  Ahe  descried  that  shore  of  sweet  repose, 
where  the  deceit  and  treachery  of  man  should 
never  disturb  the  quietude  of  a  mind  at  peace. 

3* 


30  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Blennerhassett  supplies  himself  with  a  library  and  philosophical 
apparatus — Ships  for  New  York — Western  country  described — 
Blennerhassett  sets  out  for  the  West — Pittsburgh — Mode  of  travel 
ling — Marietta — Is  desirous  of  building — Backus's  Island — Blen 
nerhassett  concludes  a  purchase — Commences  improvements — 
Island  with  its  improvements — Reflections. 

HAVING  supplied  himself,  in  London,  with  an 
extensive  library  and  a  philosophical  apparatus, 
together  with  other  materials  deemed  necessary 
for  future  use,  Blennerhassett  shipped  for  New 
York,  in  1797,  where  he  remained,  for  several 
months,  to  study  the  topography  of  the  country, 
and  the  character  of  its  inhabitants. 

At  that  time,  the  territory  west  of  the  Alle- 
ghanies — particularly  the  valley  of  the  Ohio 
and  Mississippi — was  comparatively  a  wilder 
ness.  The  enterprise  of  the  pioneer  had  driven, 
to  more  distant  regions,  the  aborigines  of  the 
West.  The  occasional  hamlet,  with  its  few 
acres  of  cultivated  ground,  interrupted,  at  inter 
vals,  the  "  boundless  contiguity  of  shade,"  and 


THE  WESTERN  COUNTRY.  31 

marked  the  abode  of  civilized  and  associated 
man.  Villages,  with  rude  habitations,  here  and 
there,  broke  the  eternal  silence  of  the  forest, 
and  presented,  to  the  adventurous  traveller,  as 
cheering  a  prospect  as  an  oasis  in  the  desert. 
Through  this  vast  solitude,  the  silvery  current 
of  the  Ohio  wended  its  way  to  the  "  father  of 
waters."  The  innovating  steamer  had  never 
yet  ruffled  its  bosom,  nor  startled  its  inhabit 
ants  with  the  sound  of  its  machinery.  The 
deer  browsed  among  the  thick  undergrowth  of 
its  bottoms ;  the  fox  sought  shelter  in  its  caves ; 
and  the  blood-scented  wolf  howled  his  wail  of 
hunger,  from  the  adjacent  hills.  Lands  of 
almost  inexhaustible  fertility  skirted  its  margin, 
and  isles  of  peculiar  beauty  decked  its  surface. 

Captivated  with  various  descriptions  of  the 
country,  in  company  with  his  wife,  Blenner- 
hassett  set  out  to  seek  this  delightful  land. 
Crossing  the  rugged  barriers  of  the  Alleghanies, 
then  a  tedious  and  difficult  undertaking,  they 
arrived  at  Pittsburgh,  in  the  fall  of  1797,  where 
their  eyes  first  rested  on  that  river,  which  after 
wards  proved  the  theatre  of  their  happiness, 
their  deception,  and  their  ruin.  Here  they  ob 
tained  passage  on  a  keel-boat,  in  those  days  the 
most  comfortable  mode  of  travelling  on  the 
western  waters ;  and  shortly  arrived  at  Marietta, 


32  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

a  town  of  greater  importance  than  any  other  in 
the  State  of  Ohio. 

The  population  of  this  pleasantly-situated 
village  was  unusually  intelligent  and  moral. 
The  puritanical  character  of  its  earlier  inhabi 
tants  gave  a  tone  to  society,  which  identifies  the 
present  generation  with  their  fathers  who  repose 
in  their  beautiful  cemetery. 

Blennerhassett's  time  was  pleasantly  occupied 
during  the  winter  in  visiting  the  various  fami 
lies,  and  making  occasional  excursions  through 
the  neighbourhood,  to  select  a  site  for  a  resi 
dence.  Above  the  village,  and  within  a  conve 
nient  distance,  is  an  eminence  of  considerable 
height,  commanding  an  extensive  view  of  the 
river  and  surrounding  country.  With  this  situa 
tion  he  was  much  pleased,  and  had  almost  de 
termined  to  erect  on  its  summit,  a  castle,  after 
the  manner  of  many  in  his  native  country,  but 
the  ascent  being  difficult,  and  the  declivities  too 
precipitous,  he  abandoned  the  idea,  and  sought 
a  situation  more  easy  of  access. 

The  following  spring,  he  concluded  to  pur 
chase  an  island  in  the  Ohio  river,  about  two 
miles  below  Parkersburg,  or  the  mouth  of  the 
Little  Kanawha,  which,  to  his  peculiar  mind, 
possessed  superior  advantages  to  the  adjacent 
farm.  To  one  of  romantic  temperament,  its 


BACKUS'S  ISLAND.  33 

locality  was  truly  delightful.  Upon  its  gently- 
sloping  banks  waved  the  drooping  branches  of  the 
willow,  and  laved  their  graceful  foliage  in  the 
passing  stream.  The  majestic  forest  trees,  un 
touched  by  the  hand  of  civilization,  reared  their 
tall  trunks,  as  monarchs  of  the  land ;  while  the 
wild-brier  and  woodbine,  blending  in  promiscu 
ous  profusion,  entwined  their  tendrils  around  the 
shrubbery  of  the  wild- wood.  Flowers  of  rare 
beauty  burst  spontaneously  from  the  soil,  and 
mingled  their  fragrance  with  the  passing  breeze. 
The  happy  songsters  of  the  woods  warbled  forth 
their  lively  notes  in  the  secluded  groves,  until 
each  bush  and  branch  appeared  vocal  with  the 
songs  of  nature's  music. 

Could  the  mind,  in  pursuit  of  seclusion  and 
repose,  picture  to  its  imagination  a  situation 
more  desirable  ?  Here  might  his  cultivated 
taste  adorn,  to  every  extent,  the  ruder  touches 
of  nature,  and  mellow  into  softer  shades  the 
harsher  outlines  of  her  pencil ;  here  might  the 
mind,  unfettered  from  worldly  cares,  drink 
deeper  draughts  from  Truth's  ever-flowing  foun 
tain;  here, 

"At  the  shadowy  close  of  day, 
When  the  hushed  grove  has  sung  its  parting  lay  ; 
When  pensive  Twilight,  in  her  dusky  car, 
Conies  slowly  on,  to  meet  the  evening  star, 


34  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

Above,  below,  aerial  murmurs  swell, 

From  hanging  wood,  brown  heath,  and  bushy  dell ; 

A  thousand  nameless  rills  that  shun  the  light ; 

Stealing  soft  music  on  the  ear  of  night ; 

So  oft  the  finer  movements  of  the  soul, 

That  shun  the  sphere  of  pleasure's  gay  control, 

In  the  still  shades  of  calm  seclusion  rise, 

And  breathe  their  sweet,  seraphic  harmonies."* 

When  fatigued  with  the  severer  studies  of 
science,  he  could  amuse  himself  with  the  tradi 
tions  and  stories  of  several  intelligent  revolu 
tionary  soldiers  who  resided  on  the  Belpre  shore ; 
or,  as  game  abounded,  might  engage  in  the 
delightful  sports  of  hunting  and  fishing. 

That  portion  of  the  island  purchased  by  Blen- 
nerh  asset  t,  was  known  by  the  familiar  cognomen 
of  "Backus's  Island,"  and  contained  about  one 
hundred  and  seventy  acres.  General  Washing 
ton,  it  is  said,  embraced  this  little  gem  of  nature, 
in  the  many  valuable  tracts  of  land  entered  by 
him  on  the  bottoms  of  the  Ohio.  His  far-seeing 
eye  proved  as  successful,  in  judging  of  the  future 
advantages  of  his  various  locations,  as  of  the 
material  of  men  and  soldiers. 

In  1798,  Blennerhassett,  having  purchased 
the  upper  portion  of  the  island,  at  a  cost  of  four 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  moved  into  a 
block-house  situated  near  the  head.  This,  to 

*  Rogers. 


HIS  RESIDENCE.  35 

those  who  had  enjoyed  the  splendour  of  palaces, 
with  the  many  conveniences  which  the  arts  of 
civilization  afford,  was  a  sorrowful  exchange, 
which  few  could  desire,  and  fewer  still  would 
have  made.  He  energetically  commenced  clear 
ing  the  grounds  of  the  thick  growth  of  timber 
and  underwood,  for  a  site  upon  which  to  erect  a 
dwelling.  Many  hands  were  requisite,  in  addi 
tion  to  the  slaves  he  had  recently  purchased,  for 
the  laborious  task.  The  forest  trees  were  up 
rooted,  and  their  boughs  and  trunks  conveyed 
away.  The  small  inequalities,  not  suiting  his 
fastidious  taste,  were  smoothed  and  regulated  as 
fancy  dictated. 

Vainly  ambitious  to  excel  any  private  resi 
dence  west  of  the  mountains,  and  to  fashion  it 
after  those  of  his  own  country,  economy  and 
simplicity  were  not  consulted  in  its  construction. 
The  sum  of  sixty  thousand  dollars,  it  is  said, 
was  expended  by  Blennerhassett,  in  fully  esta 
blishing  himself  in  his  new  abode.  To  the  mind 
of  the  voyager  descending  the  river,  as  the  edi 
fice  rose  majestically  in  the  distance,  spreading 
its  wings  to  either  shore,  the  effect  was  magical; 
and  emotions  were  produced,  not  unlike  those 
experienced  in  gazing  on  the  Moorish  palaces  of 
Andalusia.  There  was  a  spell  of  enchantment 
around  it,  which  would  fain  induce  the  credulous 


36  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

to  believe  that  it  had  been  created  by  magic, 
and  consecrated  to  the  gods.  On  a  nearer  ap 
proach  was  observed  the  beautifully  graded 
lawn,  decked  with  tasteful  shrubbery,  and  inter 
spersed  with  showy  flowers;  while,  a  little  in 
the  distance,  the  elm  threw  its  dark  branches 
over  a  carpet  of  most  beautiful  green  sward. 
Beyond  these,  the  forest  trees  were  intermingled 
with  copse-wood,  so  closely  as  to  exclude  the' 
noon-day  sun ;  and,  in  other  places,  they  formed 
those  long  sweeping  vistas,  in  the  intricacies  of 
which  the  eye  delights  to  lose  itself;  while  the 
imagination  conceives  them  as  the  paths  of 
wilder  scenes  of  sylvan  solitude. 

The  space  immediately  in  the  rear  of  the 
dwelling  was  assigned  to  fruits  and  flowers ;  of 
which  the  varieties  were  rare,  excellent  and 
beautiful ;  and  the  manner  in  which  they  were 
disposed  over  the  surface,  unique,  elegant  and 
tasteful.  Espaliers  of  peach,  apricot,  quince  and 
pear  trees,  extended  along  the  exterior,  confined 
to  a  picket  fence;  while,  in  the  middle  space, 
wound  labyrinthine  walks,  skirted  with  flower 
ing  shrubs,  and  the  eglantine  and  honey-suckle 
flung  their  melliferous  blossoms  over  bowers  of 
various  forms. 

On  the  south  was  the  vegetable  garden ;  and, 
adjoining  this,  a  thrifty  young  orchard,  embracing 


HIS  RESIDENCE.  37 

many  varieties  of  fruit — promising  abundant 
supplies  for  future  use.  Not  entirely  neglecting 
the  useful  for  the  ornamental,  Blennerhassett 
had  cleared  a  hundred  acres  below,  and  culti 
vated,  in  great  perfection,  the  various  crops 
adapted  to  the  soil. 

"The  hall  was  a  spacious  room,  its  walls 
painted  a  sombre  colour,  with  a  beautiful  cornice 
of  plaster,  bordered  with  gilded  moulding,  run 
ning  round  the  lofty  ceiling ;  while  its  furniture 
was  rich,  heavy  and  grand.  The  furniture  in 
the  drawing-room  was,  in  strong  contrast  with 
that  of  the  hall,  light,  airy  and  elegant;  with 
splendid  mirrors,  gay-coloured  carpets,  classic 
pictures,  rich  curtains,  and  ornaments  to  corres 
pond,  arranged,  by  Mrs.  Blennerhassett,  with 
nicest  taste  and  harmonious  effect.  A  large 
quantity  of  silver-plate  ornamented  the  side 
boards  and  decorated  the  tables.  The  whole 
establishment  was  chastened  by  the  purest  taste, 
and  without  that  glare  of  tinsel  finery,  too  com 
mon  among  the  wealthy." 

Such  was  the  residence  of  Blennerhassett, 
after  he  had  expended  much  labour  and  money 
to  render  it  the  reality  of  what  before  was  but 
ideal,  an  image  of  which  had  long  haunted  his 
dreams  of  youthful  fancy,  as  the  picture  of  sylvan 


38  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

beauty,  of  peaceful  solitude,  and  of  calm  repose. 
How  marked  the  mutations  of  a  few  short  years ! 
Ireland,  but  as  yesterday,  claimed  him  as  a  re 
presentative  of  one  of  her  great  families  and  of 
her  constitution.  The  deference,  due  alike  to 
rank  and  birth,  in  a  monarchical  government, 
was  his  by  inheritance ;  and  the  favour  of  courts 
and  of  coronets  was  obtained  without  an  effort, 
and  resigned  without  control.  Around  him,  a 
restless  and  distracted  population  were  daily 
enacting  scenes  of  outrage  and  oppression ;  and 
the  hand  of  civilization,  while  it  gave  energy  to 
intellect  and  advanced  the  arts  and  sciences, 
proved  a  powerful  auxiliary  in  aggravating  the 
causes  and  perpetuating  the  scenes  of  the  revo 
lution.  To-day,  we  view  him  as  the  retired 
citizen  of  a  republic,  in  the  bosom  of  the  forest 
of  the  Western  World,  with  no  tie  of  kindred, 
save  the  faithful  companion  of  his  bosom,  and 
the  two  little  sons  who  had  been  added  to  his 
household.  Quietly  retired  from  the  busy 
haunts  of  man,  his  hours  of  study  were  only  in 
truded  upon  by  the  friendly  visits  of  his  neigh 
bours,  to  whose  natures,  dissimulation  and 
flattery  were  alike  unknown,  and  whose  society 
and  attachment  he  cherished  by  reciprocal  atten 
tions. 


REFLECTIONS.  39 

Amidst  this  peaceful  solitude,  how  fully  could 
he  adopt  the  sentiment  of  the  rural  poet : — 

"Welcome,  pure  thoughts  !  welcome,  ye  silent  groves! 
These  guests,  these  courts,  my  soul  most  dearly  loves ; 
How  the  wing'd  people  of  the  sky  shall  sing, 
My  cheerful  anthem  to  the  gladsome  spring. 
Here  dwell  no  hateful  looks — no  palace  cares, — 
No  broken  vows  dwell  here,  no  pale-faced  fears." 


40  LIFE  OP  BLENNERHASSETT. 


CHAPTER  III. 

Blennerhassett   described — Studies — Amusements — Anecdotes  of — 
Appointed  justice  of  the  peace — Mrs.  Blennerhassett  described. 

BLENNERHASSETT  was  about  six  feet  in 
stature,  of  slender  proportions,  and  slightly 
stooping.  He  was  entirely  devoid  of  that  suaviter 
in  modoy  which  is  so  attractive  to  the  gentler 
sex,  and  not  unfrequently  captivates  the  minds 
of  firmer  mould,  in  society  at  large.  His  fore 
head,  the  index  usually  resorted  to  by  which  to 
judge  of  men's  minds  and  measure  the  depth  of 
intellect,  was  prominent,  and  claimed  for  its 
possessor,  by  the  general  rule,  an  intelligence 
above  the  ordinary  capacity  of  mankind.  His 
nose  was  the  distinguishing  feature  of  a  face 
which  wore  an  aspect  of  seriousness  and  thought, 
almost  amounting  to  cold  reserve.  Like  many 
of  the  nobility,  he  was  extremely  near-sighted ; 
and,  unlike  many  of  the  present  age,  who  ape 
this  defect  of  nature  as  characteristic  of  the 
aristocracy  or  the  literati,  he  found  it  a  matter 


AMUSEMENTS.  41 

of  serious  inconvenience.  In  gunning,  particu 
larly,  (an  amusement  of  which  he  was  passion 
ately  fond,)  he  had  usually  to  be  accompanied 
by  his  wife,  or  some  one  of  his  servants,  who 
levelled  his  fowling-piece  and  brought  it  to  bear 
on  the  game.  Peter,  a  domestic  who  sometimes 
attended  him  on  such  occasions,  was  in  the  habit 
of  taking  his  station  at  a  short  distance,  and 
giving  directions  after  the  following  manner  : — 

"  Now,  level,  Mr.  Blennerhassett.  A  little  to 
the  left ! — Now  to  the  right ! — there ! — steady ! — 
fire!" — Off  would  go  the  gun,  and,  not  unfre- 
quently,  the  game,  likewise. 

His  usual  dress  was  of  the  "  old  English  style, 
with  scarlet,  or  buff-coloured,  small-clothes  and 
silk  stockings ;  shoes,  with  silver  buckles ;  and 
a  coat  generally  of  blue  broad-cloth.  When  at 
home,  his  dress  was  rather  careless;  often,  in 
warm  weather,  in  his  shirt  sleeves,  without  coat 
or  waistcoat;  and,  in  winter,  he  wore  a  thick 
woollen  roundabout  or  jacket."* 

Ketiring  in  disposition,  his  life  was  sedentary 
and  studious;  books  and  philosophical  experi 
ments  possessing  greater  attractions  than  the 
gay  and  fashionable  assemblies  of  the  ball-room. 
Always  entertaining,  he  never  indulged  in 


*  Hildreth.— «  American  Review,"  1848. 
4* 


42  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

trivial  conversation,  but  interested  his  audience 
in  something  calculated  more  to  instruct  than 
amuse  their  idle  fancy. 

His  scientific  studies,  which  were  much  facili 
tated  by  means  of  his  various  apparatus,  included 
chemistry,  electricity,  galvanism,  and  astro 
nomy.  By  the  aid  of  a  telescope  and  solar 
microscope,  it  was  with  much  satisfaction  that 
he  could  demonstrate  the  truth  of  his  theories 
by  practical  observation,  and  acquaint  himself 
more  fully  with  the  motions  and  positions  of  the 
various  planets,  as  well  as  the  minuter  bodies  of 
the  earth.  While  experimenting  in  chemistry, 
he  had  conceived  the  idea  that  animal  substance 
might  be  so  adipocerated  as  to  subserve  the  use 
of  spermaceti  for  light.  He  accordingly  placed 
pieces  of  meat  in  a  small  inlet  from  the  river,  to 
undergo  a  chemical  change.  When  the  proper 
time  had  elapsed,  as  he  supposed,  to  test  the 
truth  of  his  theory,  on  visiting  the  cove  he  found 
the  finny  tribes  of  the  water  had  anticipated  his 
experiment  by  converting  the  meat  into  food. 
The  act  was  not  repeated,  and  his  theory  re 
mained  undemonstrated. 

He  was  a  connoisseur  in  music,  and  performed 
admirably  upon  the  violin  and  violoncello. 
Many  of  his  hours  of  recreation  were  whiled 
away  with  this  delightful  amusement;  and, 


ANECDOTES.  43 

being  an  adept,  pieces  of  his  own  composition 
were  played  with  animating  effect. 

Of  an  unsuspecting  disposition,  he  was  easily 
imposed  upon  by  the  misrepresentations  of 
others.  Not  unfrequently  had  he  to  pay  enor 
mously  for  his  practical  knowledge  of  life  and 
human  nature.  It  is  reported  of  him  that,  on 
one  occasion,  having  employed  an  individual  to 
collect  muscle  shells  from  the  beach,  on  which 
they  were  scattered  in  great  profusion,  when 
the  labourer  came  to  receive  his  pay,  Blenner- 
hassett  inquired  the  reason  of  his  high  charge. 

"  The  diving's  so  deep,  and  the  shells  are  so 


scarce." 


"  But,"  replied  Blennerhassett,  "  you  do  not 
dive,  do  you  ?" 

"Ay,  indeed !     In  fifteen  feet  water." 

Believing  there  was  no  occasion  for  misrepre 
senting  a  fact,  which  could  be  readily  ascer 
tained  by  a  short  walk  to  the  river,  Blennerhas 
sett  paid  the  man  his  money — a  sum  equal  to 
five  times  the  real  value  of  the  shells. 

Of  a  nervous  temperament,  he  not  unfre 
quently  imagined  objects  which  had  no  exist 
ence  in  nature,  and  apprehended  evils  that  were 
never  to  be  realized.  Earthquakes  and  thunder 
storms,  to  him,  were  intensely  alarming;  and 
such  was  his  timidity  on  the  approach  of  a 


44  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

threatening  cloud,  that  it  was  his  usual  custom 
to  close  the  doors  and  windows  of  his  house, 
and  place  himself  in  the  centre  of  a  bed,  to 
avoid  the  accidental  effects  of  the  electric 
fluid. 

Of  his  forensic  talents,  or  legal  ability,  he 
never,  in  this  country,  gave  evidence.  He  was 
not  deficient,  however,  in  either.  The  county 
court  of  Wood  county  recommended  him  to  the 
Governor  of  Virginia  for  the  magistracy;  and 
by  His  Excellency  he  was  duly  commissioned : 
but  presuming  it  a  condescension  for  which  he 
should  be  poorly  paid,  and  still  less  respected, 
he  modestly  declined  to  "  qualify,"  and  remained 
a  private  citizen. 

Let  us  turn,  for  a  time,  from  the  man,  to  con 
template  and  gaze  upon  the  person  and  charac 
ter  of  his  companion.  History  affords  but  few 
instances  where  so  much  feminine  beauty,  phy 
sical  endurance,  and  many  social  virtues,  were 
combined  with  so  brilliant  a  mind,  in  the  person 
of  a  female. 

Her  stature  was  above  the  ordinary  height  of 
her  sex;  her  form  well-proportioned  and  beauti 
fully  symmetrical;  her  manners  of  the  most 
captivating  gracefulness,  with  sufficient  dignity 
to  repel  familiarity  and  command  respect.  Her 
dark-blue  eyes,  beaming  with  love  and  affection, 


MRS.  BLENNERHASSETT.  45 

and  "  sparkling  with  life  and  intelligence/' 
looked  forth  from  beneath  the  long  brown 
lashes,  which  hung  as  curtains  to  conceal  their 
charms.  Features  of  Grecian  mould,  embel 
lished  by  a  complexion  whose  carnation  hue, 
health,  and  the  hand  of  nature  alone,  had 
painted.  Her  hair,  which  was  of  a  dark-brown 
colour,  was  usually  concealed  beneath  a  head 
dress  of  rich  coloured  silk,  worn  after  the  man 
ner  of  the  Turkish  turban. 

Her  mind  was  not  less  polished  than  her 
manners;  and  the  fluency  with  which  she 
wrote  and  spoke  the  French  and  Italian  lan 
guages  indicated  a  high  degree  of  cultivation, 
which  few,  even  in  this  golden  age  of  science 
and  letters,  have  ever  attained  to.  Her  taste 
for  dramatic  composition  led  her  to  adopt,  as  a 
favourite  pastime,  the  rehearsal  of  Shakspeare's 
plays.  These  were  usually  executed  with  an 
effect  which  would  have  done  honour  to  more 
professed  connoisseurs,  and  exhibited  a  talent 
which  needed  only  cultivation  to  have  won 
laurels  of  lasting  freshness  in  the  theatrical 
world.  Her  familiarity  with  various  French 
and  English  authors  rendered  her  an  agree 
able  companion  for  the  man  of  letters,  and 
proved  a  valuable  assistant  to  her  husband 
in  recalling  to  mind  some  opinion  or  expres- 


46  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

sion  of  an  author  which  had  escaped  his 
memory. 

She  cultivated,  to  some  extent,  a  taste  for 
poetry,  and  produced  several  pieces  which  are 
still  in  existence.  As  we  are  enabled  to  offer  a 
specimen  of  her  powers  in  this  flowery  depart 
ment  of  literature,  we  forbear  an  expression  of 
opinion,  but  leave  the  lines  to  represent  their 
authoress.* 

But  it  is  only  in  the  every-day  affairs  of  life 
that  we  can  gain  a  perfect  knowledge  of  the 
true  character  of  individuals.  It  was  in  this 
peculiar  sphere  that  Mrs.  Blennerhassett  ex 
hibited  an  uncommon  degree  of  excellence,  and 
won  the  affection  of  all  within  her  influence. 
She  adapted  her  customs  to  the  society  around 
her,  and  joined  in  their  amusements  and  fes 
tivities  with  all  the  spirit  of  one  accustomed  to 
frontier  life  from  earliest  infancy.  Hiding  on 
horseback  was  a  delightful  and  healthy  exer 
cise,  in  which  she  frequently  participated.  At 
such  times,  she  was  usually  habited  in  a  fine 
cloth  riding-dress,  of  scarlet  colour,  richly  be 
spangled  with  gold  lace  and  glittering  buttons. 
From  her  downy  hat  waved  "the  graceful 
plume  of  the  ostrich,"  and  the  rich  folds  of  her 

*  See  Chap.  XIII. 


MRS.  BLENNERHASSETT.  47 

drapery  fell  gaily  over  the  flanks  of  her  noble 
steed.  Over  hill  and  through  dale,  with  the 
fleetness  of  the  deer,  she  took  her  course,  and 
seldom  did  her  attendant  get  a  glimpse  of  his 
sprightly  charge  until  she  checked  her  speed 
to  await  his  coming. 

That  she  was  capable  of  extraordinary  phy 
sical  endurance,  was  frequently  demonstrated 
by  the  long  and  speedy  walks  she  performed, 
whether  on  business  or  visiting  some  favourite 
friend.  She  has  been  known  to  accomplish  a 
pedestrian  tour,  of  from  ten  to  twenty  miles, 
with  as  much  ease  as  other  ladies  would  make 
their  usual  calls  among  city  or  village  acquaint 
ances.  Fences  or  fallen  timber  were  no  impedi 
ments.  Bounding  over  them  with  astonishing 
agility,  she  carelessly  pursued  her  way,  as 
though  tracing  the  more  familiar  paths  of  the 
wild  woods. 

Although  she  participated  in  the  various 
amusements  through  the  country,  and  was  the 
ruling  spirit  of  every  assembly,  she  never  neg 
lected  the  ordinary  duties  of  her  household; 
every  apartment  received  her  personal  atten 
tion,  from  the  kitchen  to  the  chambers,  and  was 
duly  cleansed  and  arranged  according  to  her 
direction.  By  her  were  the  daily  tasks  of  the 
servants  assigned,  while  she  performed  with 


48  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

cheerfulness  the   duties  devolving  on  herself. 
In  short,  like  Shakspeare's  Portia, 

"She  was,  indeed,  a  rich-souled  creature,  in 
whom  the  first  germs  of  womanhood  had 
blossomed  forth,  without  a  weed  to  check,  or  a 
chill  to  blight  their  growth." 


EAKLY  SETTLERS  OF  WESTERN  VIRGINIA.  49 


CHAPTER  IY. 

Early  settlers  of  Western  Virginia — Occupations — Amusements — 
Patriotism — First  settlers  of  Ohio — Industry — Economy — Morality 
— Conclusion. 

THE  character,  manners,  and  habits  of  life 
of  the  early  settlers  of  Western  Virginia,  are 
topics  which  have  engaged  the  labours  of  but 
few  pens ;  but  they  are  not  the  less  interesting 
on  that  account. 

Many  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  new,  and 
hitherto  uncultivated  portion  of  the  State,  were 
intelligent  sons  of  families  of  distinction  in  the 
"Old  Dominion."  The  great  abundance  of 
game  of  nearly  every  variety ;  the  free  and 
exciting  sports  of  a  life  in  the  western  wrilds, 
devoid  of  care,  and  free  from  those  conventional 
restraints  which  more  polished  society  im 
poses  on  individuals,  and  by  which,  to  a  con 
siderable  extent,  their  actions  are  controlled; 
the  exhilarating,  health-invigorating,  glorious 
fun  of  chasing 

"The  stag  to  the  slippery  crag, 

And  following  the  bounding  roe ;" — 

r 


50  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

combined  to  allure  the  ardent  and  pleasure- 
loving  youths  from  the  tamer  scenes  of  their 
childhood  to  those  boundless  fields  of  new  and 
ever-changing  excitement.  Others,  enjoying 
smaller  patrimonies,  hearing  of  the  rich  allu 
vial  bottoms  of  the  Ohio  and  its  tributaries, 
and  the  low  price  at  which  land  could  be  pro 
cured,  deserted  their  less-inviting  homesteads 
to  seek  new  sources  of  wealth  beyond  those 
blue  peaks  which  many  regarded  as  the  western 
limit  of  civilization.  Penury,  and  the  ex 
hausted  lands  of  other  portions  of  the  State, 
drove  no  inconsiderable  number  in  search  of 
genial  soil,  where  the  hand  of  man  might 
realize  rich  returns  from  the  toil  bestowed  upon 
it;  or  the  abounding  game  should  furnish  sup 
plies  of  food  without  that  effort  which  nature 
requires  of  those  who  seek  her  bounties. 

Populated  by  these  various  classes,  enticed 
thither  through  considerations  as  different 
as  the  dispositions  and  circumstances  of  the 
individuals  themselves,  that  love  of  society 
which  is  seldom  lost  in  man  served  to  banish 
distinctions  of  rank,  and  render  an  absolute 
equality  essentially  necessary  to  their  social 
existence.  Around  the  blazing  fire,  the  son  of 
the  wide-famed  statesman  tripped  merrily  in 
the  misty  mazes  of  the  dance  with  the  daugh- 


EARLY  SETTLERS  OF  VIRGINIA.  51 

ter  of  the  unknown  peasant.  The  scholar, 
orator,  and  divine  strove  in  eager  emulation  to 
plant  their  rifle-balls  as  near  the  centre  of  the 
target  as  that  of  the  uncultivated  woodsman. 

Kemote  from  friends,  from  society,  and  the 
pleasing  associations  of  earlier  years,  they  de 
vised  amusements  in  every  thing,  and  made 
frolic  of  labour  itself.  A  house-raising,  or  log 
rolling,  was  as  cheerfully  attended  as  the  wed 
ding  of  a  favourite  friend ;  and  a  corn-husking 
collected  the  inhabitants  from  several  miles 
around.  The  almost  daily  interchange  of 
civilities,  and  constant  association  of  the  vari 
ous  classes,  as  well  for  the  purpose  of  joint  pro 
tection  against  the  deadly  rifle  of  the  savage, 
as  the  innate  love  of  company,  served  to  mould 
the  general  character  of  the  population  into  a 
distinct  type,  peculiar  to  themselves,  and 
stamped  their  virtues  with  an  originality  which 
the  mutations  of  time  have  failed  to  change. 

The  Virginian,  thus  re-moulded,  (if  we  may 
be  allowed  the  expression,)  from  his  active 
habits  of  life,  was  capable  of  extraordinary 
feats  of  strength  and  astonishing  agility  of  limb. 
For  a  wrestle,  or  a  foot-race,  he  was  always 
ready,  and  never  refused  a  challenge  to  take  a 
trial  at  either.  While,  to  gratify  his  revenge, 
he  would  have  grappled  with  Apollo  for  the 


52  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

tripod  of  the  temple;  yet  the  overflowing 
fountains  of  his  heart  gushed  forth,  in  swelling 
streams  of  sympathy,  for  the  misfortunes  of  his 
fellow-men.  Chivalrous,  brave,  and  independ 
ent,  "  he  would  not  have  courted  Neptune  for 
his  trident,  nor  Jove  for  his  power  to  thunder." 
With  a  generosity  bordering  on  extravagance, 
his  house,  his  horse,  his  gun — yea,  every  thing 
but  the  sacredness  of  virtue  were  at  the  dis 
posal  of  his  friends.  Clad  in  the  buck-skin 
moccasin,  with  a  hunting-shirt  of  linsey-woolsey, 
his  rifle  on  his  shoulder,  and  a  butcher-knife 
at  his  side,  he  never  changed  his  apparel  to 
suit  the  circumstances  under  which  he  was 
placed;  and,  whether  pursuing  the  fleeting 
game,  visiting  a  neighbour,  or  attending  the 
services  of  the  church,  the  same  attire  was 
suitable  both  to  the  day  and  the  occasion. 

The  deer  hunt,  the  horse  race,  and  ever- 
glorious  fox-chase,  wrere  the  usual  sources  of 
amusement  among  the  men ;  while  the  women 
found  enjoyment  at  the  various  wool-pickings 
and  quiltings  throughout  the  neighbourhood. 
The  circumstance  of  their  spending  so  much 
time,  in  the  enjoyment  of  lawful  amusements, 
is  to  be  accounted  for  in  the  fact,  that,  at  that 
early  period,  they  had  but  few  desires  to  be  satis 
fied,  and  fewer  wants  to  be  supplied.  There 


EARLY  SETTLERS  OF  VIRGINIA.  53 

being  then  but  little,  if  any,  demand  for  agricul 
tural  produce,  it  was  unnecessary  to  raise  more 
than  the  consumption  of  the  immediate  vicinity 
required.  Kemotely  situated  from  the  extrava 
gance  and  luxury  of  more  cultivated  society, 
there  was  no  need  of  mahogany  sideboards, 
groaning  with  champaign,  nor  of  Brussels  or 
Turkey  carpets  to  decorate  their  floors. 

Their  iinflrQcjn'Tig;  patriotism  was  repeatedly 
tested  in  the  Revolution,  and  various  engagements 
with  the  Indians.  At  the  first  call  of  their 
country's  voice,  the  animated  response  was 
heard  in  every  hamlet.  When  they  had  neither 
the  soldier's  uniform,  nor  equipages,  nor  arms, 
they  seized  their  trusty  rifles ;  and,  from  their 
smiling  fields  of  toil,  from  the  pleasant  scenes 
of  their  sportive  pastimes,  they  flew  to  win  a 
soldier's  name  or  a  soldier's  grave.  The  results 
of  their  efforts  shall  glow  beneath  the  pencil  and 
the  pen — shall  live  in  national  song,  and  sur 
vive  in  the  spirit-stirring  anthem,  till  none  are 
worthy  to  repeat  the  strain,  or  to  paint  the 
scenes  of  their  country's  glory!  When  the 
question  of  the  purchase  of  Louisiana  was  first 
mooted  in  our  national  councils,  and  it  was  then 
urged  that  the  inhabitants  of  that  territory 
would  prevent  a  free  and  easy  navigation  of  the 
Mississippi  river;— "Give  me,"  said  Washing- 


54  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

ton,  "three  hundred  picked  men,  well-tried  and 
true,  of  old  West  Augusta,*  and  I  will  carve  my 
way  to  the  Gulf."  What  higher  compliment 
could  have  been  paid  to  the  patriotism  and 
bravery  of  the  original  settlers  of  the  trans- 
Alleghany  country — a  remnant  of  whom  a  few 
still  remain,  as  land-marks  by  which  to  trace 
the  characters  of  the  departed ! 

While  this  type  of  character  occupied  the 
Eastern  shore  of  the  Ohio,  that  of  the  West  con 
tained  another,  as  marked  and  distinct  as  that 
of  the  Cavalier  from  the  Roundhead.  Many 
revolutionary  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  Northern 
States,  who  had  exhausted  their  resources  in 
fighting  the  battles  of  their  country,  and  who, 
from  the  depleted  state  of  the  national  finances 
had  to  remain  for  a  time  without  indemnity, 
either  for  their  services  or  losses,  sought  this 
new  land,  where  they  could  recuperate  their 
shattered  fortunes  by  economy  and  industry. 
Others,  too,  of  the  sons  of  New  England,  at 
tracted  also  by  the  fruitful  valleys  of  this  beau 
tiful  and  majestic  river,  bade  farewell  to  the 
rocky  and  ungrateful  soil  of  their  birth,  and, 
with  a  plough  and  a  bed,  a  Bible  and  a  wife, 

*  This  was  the  term  applied  to  all  the  territory  west  of  the 
Alleghanies,  known  as  the  North- West  Territory.  Augusta  County 
then  comprising  the  whole. 


EARLY  SETTLERS  OF  VIRGINIA.  55 

set  out  for  the  West.  Here,  hundreds  of  miles 
from  father  Aminidab  and  mother  Patience, 
they  set  themselves  industriously  to  work,  clear 
ing  up  farms  from  which  to  realize  fortunes,  as 
soon  as  the  circumstances  of  the  country  would 
permit.  That  their  most  sanguine  expectations 
have  been  fully  realized,  is  happily  demonstrated 
by  the  fields  waving  with  grain,  valleys  filled 
with  herds,  and  hills  covered  with  flocks,  which 
meet  the  eye  of  the  traveller  as  he  passes  along 
the  stream.  While  the  meed  of  praise  has  been 
awarded  them  for  their  indefatigable  industry, 
they  have  not  been  regarded  as  possessing  that 
generous  hospitality  which  is  characteristic  of 
their  neighbours  of  Virginia.  Educated  to  be 
lieve  there  was  no  product  without  labour — no 
wealth  without  economy — they  indulged  but 
little  in  amusements,  and  were  careful  against 
expense.  In  their  moral  and  religious  ob 
servances,  they  were  rigidly  austere.  Like  the 
Puritans  of  Plymouth  Rock,  from  whom  they 
were  descended,  the  Bible  formed  the  chief  rule 
of  their  conduct.  Their  family  government  was 
based  upon  its  precepts,  and  its  holy  teachings 
were  listened  to  each  Sabbath,  in  the  "  forest 
sanctuary."  True,  some  there  were  who  occa 
sionally  broke  over  the  more  austere  lessons 
which  had  been  taught  them  by  their  parents, 


56  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

but  the  exceptions,  "  like  angels'  visits,  were  few 
and  far  between."  If  their  liberality  at  any 
time  exhibited  itself,  it  was  usually  towards 
objects  of  charity,  or  to  spread  the  teachings  of 
that  gospel  which  they  had  been  taught  ever  to 
revere.  For  bravery  and  devotion  to  the  wel 
fare  of  their  country,  they  were  justly  regarded 
the  equals  of  their  neighbours;  and  acts  of 
Indian  cruelty  were  jointly  revenged  by  the 
two.  Having  enjoyed  early  advantages  in  the 
best  schools  and  academies  of  their  native  States, 
they  were  fully  informed  upon  the  subjects 
usually  taught  at  such  institutions,  and  many 
possessed  talents  of  superior  brilliancy. 

Such  were  the  men  with  whom  Blennerhas- 
sett  had  cast  his  fortunes.  The  variety  of 
characters,  perhaps,  was  as  great,  if  the  number 
of  persons  was  far  less,  as  that  of  the  society  he 
had  recently  abandoned.  There  was  the  hos 
pitable  Virginian,  who,  though  he  neither 
claimed  nor  desired  the  titulary  dignity  of  a 
nobleman,  exhibited  a  generosity  equal  to  that 
of  its  proudest  possessor, — a  generosity  which 
knew  no  bounds,  and  awaited  no  emergency  for 
its  exercise.  With  a  reckless  profligacy,  he 
scattered  his  bounties  broad-cast;  threw  open 
the  doors  of  hospitality;  lavishing,  with  an 
unsparing  hand,  the  gifts  which  fortune  had  be- 


EARLY  SETTLERS  OF  VIRGINIA.  57 

stowed  upon  him.  There  was  the  high-toned 
chivalry  of  the  Crusades,  which  stooped  to  no 
baseness ;  cringed  to  no  superior ;  nor  was  in 
timidated  by  menace;  performing  kindnesses, 
without  ostentation  ;  acts  of  daring,  without 
boasting,  and  relieving  the  wants  of  the  dis 
tressed,  without  the  hope  of  reward.  There 
was  the  zealous  Puritan,  acknowledging  no  su 
perior  but  God ;  no  law  binding  on  the  moral 
man,  but  the  Bible ;  no  religion  but  that  of 
Calvin;  rejecting  the  unmeaning  forms  of  Po 
pery  ;  combating  the  doctrine  of  apostolic  suc 
cession  ;  and  discarding,  in  his  worship,  the  use 
of  the  gown,  the  surplice,  and  the  prayer-book. 
There,  the  meek  and  pious  Christian,  dispensing 
charities  without  parsimony;  visiting  the  sick 
and  the  afflicted ;  and  mingling  the  comforts 
of  religion  with  the  sad  and  agonizing  scenes  of 
death.  And  there,  too,  alas! — the  crafty  and 
wily  miscreant,  making  promises  never  to  be 
fulfilled ;  taking  advantages  in  trade :  regarding 
neither  the  teachings  of  Holy  Writ,  nor  the 
precepts  of  morality;  but  ever  faithless,  ever 
insincere,  prostrating  virtue  without  compunc 
tion,  and  indulging  in  every  lawless  vice. 


58  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Domestic  situation  of  Blennerhassett  in  1805 — Burr's  first  visit  to 
the  island — Object  of  Burr's  tour — Finds  Blennerhassett  absent 
from  home — Proceeds  down  the  Ohio — Visits  Wilkinson — Confer 
ence — Blennerhassett  visits  New  York — Thomas  Addis  Emmett— 
Burr's  first  communication  to  Blennerhassett — Effect  of,  upon 
Blennerhassett — Blennerhassett's  answer — Burr's  reply — Burr's 
second  visit  to  the  island — Wirt's  description  of  the  island  as  it 
was  at  that  time — Burr  commences  recruiting  men  for  the  expedi 
tion — Arguments  made  use  of  to  induce  individuals  to  join — 
Effect  of  his  arguments. 

EIGHT  years  had  already  elapsed  since  Blen 
nerhassett  had  made  the  island  his  residence. 
The  flowers  and  shrubbery  planted  by  his  hands 
had  now  sprung  up  in  luxuriant  perfection,  and 
regaled  the  senses  with  their  grateful  fragrance. 
The  products  of  his  husbandry  secured  at  least 
a  comfortable  supply  of  all  the  necessaries  of 
life,  and  more  than  this  he  wished  not.  The 
independence  of  his  situation  enabled  him  to 
procure  any  or  all  of  the  delicacies  which  a 
more  Epicurean  taste  might  have  desired;  but 
these  had  been  resigned,  with  the  pomp  and 


AARON  BURR.  59 

glitter  of  his  former  station.  Around  him,  he 
viewed  a  contented  family,  rejoicing  in  the 
buoyancy  of  health,  and  with  the  sprightliness 
of  youthful  vivacity.  The  returning  seasons 
brought  with  them  returning  pleasures.  New 
scenes  of  interest,  new  engagements,  and  wider 
fields  of  usefulness,  daily  presented  themselves 
to  his  awakening  impulses ;  but,  in  the  midst 
of  all  this  peace  and  cheerfulness — this  "con 
stant  sunshine  of  the  soul" — a  dark  and  porten-  . 
tous  cloud  gathered  in  the  horizon  of  his  efful 
gent  future,  destined  soon  to  burst  with  sad 
fatality  upon  the  unsuspecting  circle  of  that 
household. 

In  the  spring  of  1805,  Aaron  Burr,  late  Vice 
President  of  the  United  States,  after  the  closing 
of  the  session  of  Congress,  set  out  on  a  journey 
through  the  Western  States.  The  object  of  this 
tour,  although  never  definitively  declared,  was, 
doubtless,  three-fold : — 

First.  To  ascertain  the  sentiments  of  the 
people  of  the  West  upon  the  subject  of  a  se 
paration  from  the  Atlantic  States. 

Secondly.  To  enlist  recruits,  and  make  ar 
rangements  for  a  private  expedition  against 
Mexico  and  the  Spanish  provinces,  in  the  event 
of  a  war  between  the  United  States  and  Spain, 
which  at  that  time  seemed  inevitable. 


60  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

Thirdly.  In  the  event  of  a  failure  of  both  of 
these  measures,  to  purchase  a  tract  of  land  of 
Baron  Bastrop,  lying  in  the  territory  of  Loui 
siana,  on  the  Washita  river.  Upon  this,  he 
contemplated  the  establishment  of  a  colony  of 
intelligent  and  wealthy  individuals,  where  he 
might  rear  around  him  a  society  remarkable  for 
its  refinement  in  civil  and  social  life.  That  each 
of  these  stupendous  enterprises  was  determined 
on,  is  clearly  inferable  from  the  evidence  after 
ward  adduced  against  him. 

With  a  mind,  tortured  by  remorse  for  the  un 
fortunate  duel  with  Hamilton ;  sickened  by  dis 
appointment  in  political  preferment;  disgusted 
with  the  more  pacific  measures  of  Jefferson,  he 
could  only  direct  his  thoughts  in  scenes  of  out 
ward  conflict,  and  bury  the  disquietudes  which 
were  tearing  his  soul,  by  plunging  into  deeds  of 
wonderful  magnitude. 

Knowing  full  well  the  advantages  which 
wealth  and  influence  would  add  to  either  under 
taking,  he  sought  first  to  secure  the  co-operation 
of  the  most  conspicuous  characters  at  that  time 
occupying  the  West.  Blennerhassett  was  a 
shining  treasure,  too  valuable  to  remain  unno 
ticed  : — a  gentleman  of  opulence  and  ease,  pos 
sessing  a  mind  of  superior  scientific  acquire 
ments  ;  and  who,  from  the  discontents  of  his 


BURR'S  FIRST  VISIT.  61 

own  country,  it  would  readily  be  presumed,  was 
well  acquainted  with  military  tactics;  such  a 
personage  would  indeed  prove  a  powerful  auxi 
liary  in  any  measure  he  had  proposed  to  him 
self.  Burr,  accordingly,  landed  at  the  island; 
and,  in  company  with  a  Mrs.  Shaw,  strolled  over 
this  far-famed  paradise.  Mr.  Blennerhassett 
was  absent  from  home.  His  wife's  attention 
having  been  attracted  by  the  strangers  who 
were  then  surveying  the  premises,  she  de 
spatched  a  messenger  to  them,  tendering  the 
hospitalities  of  the  mansion.  To  increase  her 
surprise,  Burr  returned  his  card  by  the  servant, 
stating  that  as  curiosity  alone  had  prompted  the 
visit,  they  must  decline  the  invitation.  Honoured 
by  the  attention  of  so  distinguished  an  indi 
vidual  as  the  Ex- Vice-President  of  the  United 
States,  Mrs.  Blennerhassett  was  unusually  im 
portunate;  and  Burr,  with  an  assumption  of 
hesitation,  finally  yielded. 

Having  participated  in  the  general  topics  of 
conversation,  until  about  eleven  o'clock  at  night, 
Burr  re-embarked  on  board  of  his  boat,  and  pro 
ceeded  down  the  river,  to  view  the  country  and 
hold  conferences  with  the  inhabitants  at  the 
various  points. 

General  Wilkinson,  who  commanded  the 
western  forces,  was,  at  that  time,  temporarily  at 


62  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

Fort  Massac,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio.  As 
a  previous  correspondence  had  been  held  be 
tween  them,  which  had  brought  them  into 
intimate  relations,  Burr  wished  to  ascertain, 
with  what  confidence  he  could  rely  on  the  aid 
of  that  officer  and  his  men,  in  the  event  of  an 
expedition  to  Mexico.  The  result  of  that  in 
terview  has  never  been  definitely  ascertained ; 
but  it  was  strongly  suspected,  however,  that 
Wilkinson  assured  him  of  his  support.  Here, 
the  Ex-Vice-President  was  furnished  by  the 
general,  with  an  elegant  barge,  sails,  colours 
and  ten  oars,  with  a  sergeant  and  ten  able  hands 
to  prosecute  his  journey. 

About  this  time,  Blennerhassett,  having  re 
ceived  intelligence  of  the  arrival,  in  New  York, 
of  his  classmate  and  friend,  the  celebrated 
Thomas  Addis  Emmett,  who  had  been  com 
pelled  to  flee  his  country,  by  reason  of  serious 
political  difficulties,  hastened  to  meet  him.  The 
feelings  of  the  exiles,  as  they  again  clasped 
hands  on  the  western  borders  of  the  Atlantic, 
can  only  be  fully  appreciated  by  those  who  have 
experienced  the  emotions.  Here  he  found  one 
with  whom  he  could  freely  sympathize,  and 
who,  in  return,  could  as  freely  sympathize  with 
him.  Often,  in  early  life,  had  they  sported 
together  over  the  same  green  meadows,  and 


LETTER  FROM  BURR.  63 

participated  in  the  same  amusements.  And 
when,  at  a  more  advanced  age,  they  had  been 
honourable  competitors  for  academic  honours, 
no  selfish  ambition  had  served  to  unloose  the 
bonds  which  early  childhood  welded,  although 
the  contest  was  never  so  spirited,  or  the  prize 
was  never  so  dazzling.  Still  later  in  life, 
they  had  deplored  together  the  fate  of  their 
country;  had  witnessed  her  deep  degradation, 
and  sighed  over  the  hopeless  prospects  which 
were  shadowed  in  the  distant  future.  After 
several  weeks  spent  with  his  friend,  during 
which  time  he  renewed  his  former  acquaintance 
in  the  city,  he  returned  to  his  family  on  the 
island. 

In  the  beginning  of  December,  1805,  Burr 
addressed  a  communication  to  Blennerhassett, 
regretting  that  the  absence  of  the  latter  had 
deprived  the  former  of  the  pleasure  of  improving 
his  personal  acquaintance,  when  visiting  his 
island  residence.  In  an  insinuating  but  guarded 
manner,  he  alluded  to  the  talents  of  Blenner 
hassett,  as  deserving  of  a  higher  sphere  than  that 
in  which  they  were  employed.  He  was  sur 
rounded,  to  be  sure,  with  all  the  comforts  of  life, 
but  those  very  comforts  only  served  to  effeminate 
the  mind,  for  want  of  active  engagements.  His 
pleasures  were  merely  passive,  and  were  better 


64  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

suited  to  the  negative  enjoyment  of  the  rude 
and  unconscious  herd,  than  to  those  delightful 
sensations  experienced  by  the  intelligent  mind 
whe,n  in  the  active  exercise  of  all  its  ennobling 
powers.  There  were  other  considerations,  too, 
which  should  induce  him  to  feel  that  physical 
effort  was  necessary.  He  was  surrounded  by  a 
growing  family,  who  demanded  of  him  superior 
advantages  over  those  to  be  obtained  in  his  new 
and  unpolished  neighbourhood.  His  fortune 
was  gradually  diminishing,  while  no  effort  was 
made  to  add  to  his  present  estate.  The  inevi 
table  consequence  therefore  must  be  the  im 
poverishment  of  his  children  by  his  listless 
attention  to  all  financial  affairs.  Suggesting 
several  plans  by  which  Blennerhassett  might 
enhance  his  fortune,  and  render  himself  a  more 
important  individual  in  society,  he  left  him  to 
meditate  on  the  truthfulness  of  the  picture  so 
dexterously  set  before  him. 

Such  apparently  disinterested  counsel,  from 
one  whose  judgment  and  experience  he  respect 
ed,  caused  Blennerhassett  to  turn  his  attention, 
more  particularly  than  he  had  hitherto  done, 
towards  himself  and  his  own  affairs.  The  result 
was  all  that  Burr  could  have  desired.  An 
answer  was  returned,  in  which  the  writer  de 
sired  to  be  admitted  into  a  participation  of  any 


BURR'S  SECOND  LETTER.  65 

speculation  which  might  present  itself  to  Burr's 
judgment  as  worthy  to  engage  his  talents.  "In 
making  this  advance,"  says  Blennerhassett,  "I 
contemplated  not  only  a  commercial  enterprise 
or  land  purchase,  but  a  military  adventure  was 
distinctly  mentioned  in  which  I  would  engage." 
He  said,  he  conceived  the  country  on  the  eve 
of  a  Spanish  war,  when  it  would  be  necessary 
to  call  all  the  talents  of  the  country  into  action, 
among  which,  the  brightest  was  Burr's,  and 
under  such  considerations  he  was  willing  to 
engage  in  any  enterprise  for  the  subjugation  of 
the  Spanish  dominion.* 

To  this  communication  the  following  reply 
was  returned : — 

"WASHINGTON  CITY,  April  15th,  1806. 

"DEAR  SIR  : — Your  very  interesting  letter,  of 
the  21st  December,  arrived  here  just  after  I  had 
passed  through  this  city  on  my  way  to  South 
Carolina,  and  was  not  received  until  about  two 
months  after  its  date.  The  subject  of  it"  [se 
curing  land  in  the  South- West,]  "has  been 
daily  in  my  mind.  Independently  of  considera 
tions  personal  to  myself,  I  learn,  with  the  utmost 
pleasure,  that  you  are  to  be  restored  to  the 
social  and  the  active  world.  Your  talents  and 

*  See  Blennerhassett' s  Brief:  Appendix,  No.  4. 


66  MFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

acquirements  seemed  to  have  destined  you  for 
something  more  than  vegetable  life ;  and,  since 
the  first  hour  of  our  acquaintance,  I  have  con 
sidered  your  seclusion  as  a  fraud  on  society. 
The  confidence  you  have  seen  fit  to  place  in  me 
is  extremely  flattering,  and  it  would  seem  that 
there  has  been,  without  explanation,  a  sort  of 
consent  between  our  minds.  In  a  matter  of  so 
much  moment,  and  on  which  I  am  so  imper 
fectly  informed,  it  would  be  hazarding  too  much 
to  offer  advice,  yet  it  is  due  to  the  frankness  of 
your  letter,  to  acknowledge  that  I  had  projected, 
and  still  meditate,  [partly  obliterated]  a  specula 
tion  precisely  of  the  character  you  have  de 
scribed.  It  would  have  been  submitted  to  your 
consideration,  in  October  last,  if  I  had  then  had 
the  good  fortune  to  find  you  at  home.  The  busi 
ness,  however,  in  some  degree  depends  on  con 
tingencies  not  within  my  control,  and  will  not 
be  commenced  before  December,  if  ever.  From 
this  circumstance,  and  as  the  matter  in  its  pre 
sent  state  cannot  be  satisfactorily  explained  by 
letter,  the  communication  will  be  deferred  till  a 
personal  interview  can  be  had.  With  this  view, 
I  pray  to  be  informed  of  your  intended  move 
ments  the  ensuing  season,  and  in  case  you  should 
visit  Orleans,  at  what  time  and  what  port  you 
may  be  expected  on  the  Atlantic  coast.  But  I 


VISIT  OF  BURR.  67 

must  insist  that  these  intimations  be  not  per 
mitted  to  interrupt  the  prosecution  of  any  plans 
which  you  have  formed  for  yourself.  No  occu 
pation  which  will  not  take  you  off  the  continent 
can  interfere  with  that  which  I  may  propose." 
[The  letter  then  gives  an  account  of  the  society 
of  Orleans,  and  concludes :]  "  We  shall  have 
no  war"  [with  Spain],  "unless  we  should  be 
actually  invaded.  Some  estimate  of  the  views 
and  temper  of  our  government  may  be  formed 
from  the  proceedings  of  the  House  of  Kepre- 
sentatives  with  closed  doors.  A  copy  of  that 
part  of  their  journal  I  sent  for  your  amusement. 
"Accept,  dear  sir,  assurances  of  the  great  con 
sideration  and  respect,  with  which 

"  I  am,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  BURR."* 
"ff.  BlennerhasseU,Esqr 

In  the  month  of  August,  1806,  Burr,  accom 
panied  by  his  accomplished  daughter,  Mrs. 
Theodosia  Alston,  wife  of  Gov.  Joseph  Alston 
of  South  Carolina,"^  visited  the  island.  As  this 
interview  has  been  eloquently  alluded  to  by  the 
distinguished  William  Wirt,  it  is  introduced  as 

*  "Blennerhassett;"    By  Wm.  Wallace:    "American  Review," 
1845. 
f  See  Appendix  No.  1. 


68  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

descriptive  of  the  domestic  situation  of  the  Blen- 
nerhassett  family,  at  this  particular  period.  He 
remarks : — 

"A  shrubbery,  which  Shenstone  might  have 
envied,  blooms  around  him;  music  that  might 
have  charmed  Calypso  and  her  nymphs,  is  his; 
an  extensive  library  spreads  its  treasures  before 
him ;  a  philosophical  apparatus  offers  to  him  all 
the  mysteries  and  secrets  of  nature;  peace, 
tranquillity  and  innocence  shed  their  mingled 
delights  around  him ;  and,  to  crown  the  enchant 
ment  of  the  scene,  a  wife  who  is  said  to  be  lovely 
even  beyond  her  sex,  and  graced  with  every 
accomplishment  that  can  render  it  irresistible, 
has  blessed  him  with  her  love,  and  made  him 
the  father  of  her  children.  The  evidence  would 
convince  you,  that  this  is  only  a  faint  picture 
of  real  life.  In  the  midst  of  all  this  peace,  this 
innocence,  this  tranquillity,  this  feast  of  mind, 
this  pure  banquet  of  the  heart,  the  destroyer 
comes : — he  comes  to  turn  his  paradise  into  a 
hell ; — yet  the  flowers  do  not  wither  at  his  ap 
proach,  and  no  monitory  shuddering,  through 
the  bosom  of  their  unfortunate  possessor,  warns 
him  of  the  ruin  that  is  coming  upon  him.  A 
stranger  presents  himself.  Introduced  to  their 
civilities  by  the  high  rank  he  had  lately  held  in 
his  country,  he  soon  finds  way  to  their  hearts 


WIRT'S  SPEECH.  69 

by  the  dignity  and  elegance  of  his  demeanor, 
the  light  and  beauty  of  his  conversation,  and 
the  seductive  and  fascinating  power  of  his 
address.  The  conquest  was  not  a  difficult  one. 
Innocence  is  ever  simple  and  credulous;  con 
scious  of  no  designs  itself,  it  expects  none  in 
others ;  every  door  and  portal  of  the  heart  are 
thrown  open,  and  all  who  choose  it,  enter.  Such 
was  the  state  of  Eden  when  the  serpent  entered 
its  bowers.  The  prisoner,"  (Burr)  "in  a  more 
engaging  form,  winding  himself  into  the  open 
and  unpractised  heart  of  Blennerhassett,  found 
but  little  difficulty  in  changing  the  native  cha 
racter  of  that  heart,  and  the  objects  of  its  affec 
tions.  By  degrees,  he  infuses  into  it  the  poison 
of  his  own  ambition;  he  breathes  into  it  the 
fire  of  his  own  courage ;  a  daring  and  desperate 
thirst  for  glory;  an  ardour  panting  for  all  the 
storms  and  bustle  and  hurricane  of  life.  In  a 
short  time,  the  whole  man  is  changed ;  and 
every  object  of  his  former  delights  relinquished. 
No  more  he  enjoys  the  tranquil  scene;  it  has 
become  flat  and  insipid  to  his  taste.  His  books 
are  abandoned ;  his  retort  and  crucible  thrown 
aside;  his  shrubbery  blooms  and  breathes  its 
fragrance  upon  the  air  in  vain — he  likes  it  not; 
his  ear  no  longer  drinks  the  melody  of  music — 
it  longs  for  the  trumpet's  clangour  and  the  can- 


70  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

non's  roar.  Even  the  prattle  of  his  babes,  once 
so  sweet,  no  longer  affects  him,  and  the  angel 
smile  of  his  wife,  who  hitherto  touched  his 
bosom  with  ecstasy  so  unspeakable,  is  now  un- 
felt  for  and  unseen.  Greater  objects  have  taken 
possession  of  his  soul ;  his  imagination  has  been 
dazzled  by  visions  of  diadems,  and  stars,  and 
garters,  and  titles  of  nobility; — he  has  been 
taught  to  burn,  with  restless  emulation,  at  the 
names  of  Cromwell,  Csesar,  and  Bonaparte,"  &c. 

Leaving  his  daughter  with  Mrs.  Blennerhas- 
sett,  Burr  proceeded  immediately  to  recruiting 
men  for  the  expedition.  His  mind  was  now 
fully  determined  on  the  enterprise.  Every  thing 
appeared  favourable,  and  what  was  to  prevent 
the  realization  of  his  dreams  ? 

"Far  away  to  the  south-west,  a  thousand 
miles  beyond  the  Mississippi,  lay  a  vast  and 
wealthy  empire,  governed  by  tyrants  whom  the 
people  hated,  and  defended  by  troops  whom 
soldiers  should  despise.  For  years,  the  riches 
of  that  kingdom  were  the  theme  of  travellers. 
Her  mines  were  inexhaustible  and  had  flooded 
Europe  with  gold.  Her  nobles  enjoyed  the 
revenues  of  emperors;  her  capitol  was  said  to 
be  blazoned  with  jewels.  It  was  known  to  look 
down  on  the  lake,  into  whose  waters  the  un 
happy  Guateinozin  had  cast  the  treasures  of  that 


BURR'S  PROJECT.  71 

long  line  of  native  princes,  of  which  he  was  the 
last.  Men  dreamed  of  that  magnificent  city  as 
Alladin  dreamed  of  his  palaces,  or  Columbus  of 
Cathay.  Costly  statues;  vessels  of  gold  and 
silver;  jewels  of  untold  value;  troops  of  the 
fairest  Indian  girls  for  slaves ;  all  that  the  eye 
delighted  in,  or  the  heart  of  man  could  desire,  it 
was  currently  declared,  would  form  the  plunder 
of  Mexico.  A  bold  adventurer,  commanding  an 
army  of  Anglo-Saxon  soldiers,  could  possess 
himself  of  the  empire.  The  times  were  favour 
able  to  the  enterprise.  The  priesthood  through 
out  Mexico  was  disaffected,  and  would  gladly 
lend  its  aid  to  any  conqueror  who  secured  its 
privileges;  and  the  priesthood  then,  as  now, 
exercised  a  paramount  influence  over  the  weak 
and  superstitious  Mexicans.  America,  too,  was 
thought  to  be  on  the  eve  of  a  Spanish  war,  when 
the  contemplated  expedition  might  easily  be 
fitted  out  at  New  Orleans.  Burr  saw  the  glit 
tering  prize,  and  resolved  to  seize  it.  He  would 
conquer  this  gorgeous  realm,  and  realize,  in  this 
new  world,  as  Napoleon  did  in  the  old,  a  dream 
of  romance. 

"  He  would  surround  his  throne  with  dukes 
and  marshals,  and  princes  of  the  empire.  The 
pomp  of  chivalry,  the  splendours  of  the  east, 
should  be  revived  in  this  court.  Realms  equally 


72  LIFE  OP  BLENNERHASSETT. 

rich,  and  even  more  easy  of  spoil,  opened  to  the 
south,  to  whose  conquest  his  successors,  if  not 
himself,  might  aspire.  Perhaps  nothing  would 
check  his  victorious  banner  until  he  had  tra 
versed  the  continent,  and  stood  on  that  bold 
and  stormy  promontory,  where  the  contending 
waters  of  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  lash  around 
Cape  Horn."* 

With  that  eloquence  of  expression  and  power 
of  imagination  which  was  peculiarly  his,  he  in 
fused  into  the  minds  of  his  auditors  a  thirst,  like 
his  own,  for  the  brilliant  scenes  of  Mexico.  At 
Marietta  he  had  an  opportunity  of  meeting  with 
the  militia,  who  were  assembled  for  the  purpose 
of  an  annual  training.  Being  called  upon  for 
that  purpose,  he  exercised  the  regiment  in  a  few 
evolutions,  by  which  he  demonstrated  to  the 
doubting  his  superior  knowledge  of  military 
tactics,  and  capability  for  commanding.  A  ball 
succeeded  the  training,  in  the  evening.  The 
congregated  beauty  of  the  surrounding  neigh 
bourhood  greeted  him  with  their  smiles ;  while 
the  men  of  rougher  mould  gave  encouragement 
to  his  enterprise.  Offers  of  distinction  and 
rank,  and  the  dazzling  dreams  of  wealth,  were 
arguments  irresistible  to  the  young  and  adven- 

*  Anonymous. 


CHARACTER  OF  BURR'S  RECRUITS.  73 

turous ;  and  Burr  soon  found  himself  surrounded 
by  men  impatient  for  the  expedition. 

Let  it  not  be  presumed  that  the  honest  and 
patriotic  spirits  of  the  West  for  a  moment  con 
templated  treachery  to  their  country,  or  medi 
tated  a  wilful  violation  of  her  laws.  They  who 
had  breasted  the  storms  of  adversity,  in  every 
conceivable  shape ;  who  had  scaled  the  barriers 
of  the  Alleghanies,  amid  the  dangers  of  Indian 
warfare ;  who,  for  many  years,  had  stood  upon 
the  frontier  of  civilization,  and  grappled,  in 
deadly  conflict,  with  the  enemies  of  their  country 
and  their  race;  who  had  pursued  the  savage  to 
his  wigwam  and  startled  him  from  his  moun 
tain  fastness ;  these  were  the  men  whom  impar 
tial  history  must  pronounce  incapable  of  a  crime 
so  base,  so  revolting  to  the  mind  of  every  patriot. 
But  they  were  deceived,  in  their  over-credulous- 
ness,  in  the  statement  of  Burr,  and  joined  the 
expedition,  under  the  well-grounded  belief  that 
Jefferson  favoured  it;  and  that,  in  the  event  of 
war,  it  would  be  neither  illegal  nor  contrary  to 
the  wishes  of  the  government. 


74  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Preparations  for  the  expedition  commenced — Burr's  visit  to  Chil- 
licothe — Cincinnati — Kentucky — Alston  arrives  at  the  island — 
Alston  with  his  wife  and  Blennerhassett  visits  Lexington,  Ky. — 
Blennerhassett  is  introduced  to  Charles  Fenton  Mercer — Suspi 
cious  aspect  of  the  expedition — Situation  of  affairs  in  the  United 
States — Apprehensions  of  the  people — Rumours — Graham  ap 
pointed  a  secret  agent  of  the  government — Instructions — Instruc 
tions  to  Gen.  Wilkinson — Wilkinson  demands  forces  of  the  Go 
vernor  of  Mississippi  Territory — Is  refused — Despatches  Burling 
to  Mexico — Holds  a  conference  with  Governor  Claiborne  at  New 
Orleans — Merchants  of  New  Orleans  convoked — Preparations  at 
New  Orleans — Blennerhassett  sets  out  from  Kentucky  for  home — 
Meets  with  Mr.  Mercer — Conversation — Burr's  designs  explained 
— Blennerhassett  is  joined  by  Burr  at  the  island — Burr  leaves  the 
supervision  of  the  boats  to  Blennerhassett  and  returns  to  Ken 
tucky — Is  arrested — Graham  arrives  at  Marietta — Interview  with 
Blennerhassett — Visits  the  Governor  of  Ohio  at  Chillicothe — Act 
of  the  Ohio  Legislature — Militia  of  the  State  called  out — Anec 
dotes — Mercer's  visit  to  the  island — Arrival  of  Comfort  Tyler  and 
his  men — Find  Blennerhassett  disheartened  as  to  the  feasibility 
of  the  enterprise. 

IN  the  month  of  September,  1806,  Burr  com 
menced  active  preparations  for  the  contemplated 
expedition.  Contracts  for  fifteen  large  bateaux, 
sufficient  to  convey  five  hundred  men,  and  a 
large  keel-boat  for  the  transportation  of  provi- 


BURR'S  VISIT  TO  CHILLICOTHE.  75 

sion,  arms,  ammunition,  &c.,  also,  for  flour, 
whisky,  corn-meal,  and  other  eatables,  were 
entered  into;  for  the  most  of  which  Blenner- 
hassett  became  responsible.  Much  of  the  corn, 
from  which  the  meal  was  made,  was  raised  and 
kiln-dried  on  the  island. 

"While  these  operations  were  being  carried 
forward,  Burr  visited  Chillicothe,  then  the  seat 
of  government  of  Ohio,  and  continued  his  trip 
to  Cincinnati,  and  thence  to  Kentucky.  The 
object  of  this  tour  was  to  extend  his  acquaint 
ance,  and  add  new  recruits  to  his  enterprise. 
Each  private  was  to  supply  himself  with  proper 
arms  and  clothing,  and  to  receive,  as  a  compen 
sation  for  his  services,  one  hundred  acres  of  land 
on  the  "Washita :  officers  were  to  receive  accord 
ing  to  their  grade. 

In  the  month  of  October,  Mrs.  Alston,  then  at 
the  island  with  the  family  of  Blennerhassett, 
was  joined  by  her  husband,  who  had  fallen  in 
with  Burr's  plans,  and,  in  all  probability,  was  to 
accompany  him  on  his  tour.  They,  in  company 
with  Blennerhassett,  proceeded  to  Lexington, 
Kentucky;  leaving  the  island  and  its  affairs 
under  the  supervision  of  Mrs.  Blennerhassett. 

On  their  passage  down,  they  met  with  the 
distinguished  Charles  Fenton  Mercer,  who  was 
an  old  college-mate  of  Mr.  Alston,  at  the  New 


76  •    LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

Jersey  College.  Having  been  introduced  to  the 
acquaintance  of  Blennerhassett,  Mr.  Mercer  re 
marks,  that  the  reputation  which  he  had  ac 
quired  for  talents,  learning  and  taste,  and  an 
eccentric  and  somewhat  romantic  mode  of  life, 
rendered  this  interview  with  Blennerhassett  one 
of  the  most  interesting  events  which  occurred  to 
him  during  his  residence  on  the  Ohio.  He, 
therefore,  accepted  with  much  pleasure  an  in 
vitation  to  visit  the  beautiful  and  much  cele 
brated  island. 

It  was  true,  that,  at  that  period,  and  for  seve 
ral  weeks  previous,  reports  were  in  circulation, 
that  Blennerhassett  was  engaged  with  Burr  in 
some  common  enterprise,  to  which  many  had 
imputed  a  highly  criminal  design.  But  those 
reports,  and  especially  the  injurious  suspicions 
often  connected  with  them,  seemed  to  have 
arisen  from  pre-existing  prejudices  against  Burr, 
which  it  was  not  difficult  to  trace  to  an  origin 
very  remote  from  the  designs  now  ascribed  to 
him.  As  the  reports  were  believed  and  propa 
gated,  by  those  who  spake  of  them,  with  a  con 
viction  and  zeal  proportioned  to  their  ignorance 
or  malignity ;  and  as  they  were,  in  themselves, 
most  improbable,  absurd  and  ridiculous,  Mr. 
Mercer  considered  them  entitled  to  no  considera 
tion. 


POLITICAL  ASPECTS.  77 

The  expedition,  in  the  eyes  of  many,  began 
now  to  assume  a  serious  aspect;  and,  through 
the  medium  of  the  press,  attracted  the  attention 
of  those  more  remote  from  the  scene  of  prepara 
tions.  Apprehension  and  alarm  seized  on  the 
public  mind,  and  spread  dismay  throughout  the 
country.  Spain  had  refused  us  compensation 
for  her  spoliations  during  a  former  war.  Our 
commerce  passing  on  the  Mobile  river  continued 
to  be  obstructed  by  arbitrary  duties  and  vexa 
tious  searches.  The  boundaries  of  Louisiana 
remained  in  dispute,  producing  much  uneasiness 
and  discontent  in  the  south-west.  The  govern 
ment  had  been  deterred  from  a  declaration  of 
war,  by  Napoleon,  from  the  effects  of  whose  arms 
Europe  was  then  trembling,  and  who  had  inti 
mated  that  France  would  take  part  with  Spain 
in  any  contest  she  might  have  against  the  United 
States.  Added  to  this,  the  impressment  of 
American  seamen  by  British  vessels;  and  our 
nation  was  at  once  reduced  to  a  situation  of 
painful  humiliation. 

Feeble,  indeed,  would  be  that  aid  which  a 
disunited  people  could  render,  in  time  of  perils 
such  as  these.  Never  before,  in  the  history  of 
the  nation,  had  rebellion  and  disunion  so  openly 
avowed  itself.  How  far  this  disaffection  ex 
tended,  was,  to  many,  a  matter  of  mysterious 


78  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

and  anxious  conjecture.  Burr  had,  but  a  few 
years  previous,  closed  a  close  and  popular  can 
vass  for  the  Executive  chair.  It  was  known 
that,  not  only  his  partisans,  but  his  personal 
friends,  were  numerous;  many  of  whom  were 
men  of  wealth  and  influence,  who  could  rally  to 
their  standard  a  formidable  number  to  support 
the  cause  of  faction.  Party  malevolence  and 
personal  animosity  added  fuel  to  the  flame,  and 
ultimate  ruin  hung,  as  a  withering  pall,  over 
the  destinies  of  the  country. 

A  rumour  was  gaining  ground  that  a  nume 
rous  and  powerful  association,  extending,  from 
New  York,  through  the  Western  States,  to  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  had  been  formed ;  that  eight  or 
ten  thousand  men  were  to  rendezvous  in  New 
Orleans,  at  no  distant  period ;  and,  from  thence, 
with  the  cooperation  of  a  naval  force,  follow 
Burr  to  Yera  Cruz ;  that  agents  from  Mexico 
had  come  to  Philadelphia  during  the  summer, 
and  had  given  assurances  that  the  landing  of 
the  expedition  would  be  followed  by  such  an 
immediate  and  general  insurrection  as  would 
insure  the  submission  of  the  existing  govern 
ment,  and  silence  all  opposition  in  a  very  few 
weeks;  that  a  part  of  the  association  would 
descend  the  Alleghany  river,  and  the  first  gene 
ral  rendezvous  would  be  at  the  rapids  of  the 


RUMOURS  OF  THE  EXPEDITION.  79 

Ohio,  towards  the  twentieth  of  October,  and, 
from  thence,  the  aggregate  force  was  to  proceed 
in  lighkboats,  with  the  utmost  velocity,  to  New 
Orleans,  under  an  expectation  of  being  joined 
on  the  rout  by  men  raised  in  the  State  of  Ten 
nessee  and  other  quarters. 

It  was  said  that  the  maritime  cooperation 
relied  on  was  from  a  British  squadron  in  the 
West  Indies;  that  active  and  influential  cha 
racters  had  been  engaged  in  making  preparations 
for  six  or  eight  months  past,  which  were  in  such 
a  state  of  readiness  that  it  was  expected  the 
van  would  reach  New  Orleans  in  December, 
where  the  necessary  organization  and  equip 
ment  would  be  completed,  with  such  prompti 
tude  that  the  expedition  would  leave  the  Mis 
sissippi  towards  the  first  of  February.  It  was 
added,  that  the  revolt  of  the  slaves,  along  the 
river,  was  relied  on,  as  an  auxiliary  measure; 
and  that  the  seizure  of  the  banks  of  New  Or 
leans  was  contemplated,  to  supply  the  funds 
necessary  to  carry  on  the  enterprise.* 

Mr.  Jefferson,  then  President  of  the  United 
States,  through  considerations  of  caution,  and 
to  quell  the  apprehension  of  danger,  adopted  the 
precautionary  measure  of  appointing  Graham, 

*  Martin's  History  of  Louisiana. 


80  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

the  Secretary  of  the  territory  of  Orleans,  a  secret 
agent  of  the  government,  with  instructions  to  spy 
out  and  investigate  any  plot  hostile  to  the  na 
tional  interest;  empowering  him  to  enter  into 
conferences  with  the  civil  and  military  authori 
ties  in  the  West,  and,  with  their  aid,  to  call  on 
the  spot  whatever  should  become  necessary  to 
discover  the  designs  of  the  supposed  conspirators ; 
and  also  to  bring  the  offenders  to  punishment, 
when  he  should  have  fully  ascertained  their  in 
tentions. 

It  being  known,  at  this  time,  that  many  boats 
were  in  preparation,  stores  and  provisions  col 
lected,  and  an  unusual  number  of  suspicious  cha 
racters  in  motion,  on  the  Ohio  and  its  tributaries, 
orders  were  given  to  the  Governor  of  the  Missis 
sippi  and  Orleans  Territories,  and  to  the  com 
manders  of  the  land  and  naval  forces,  to  be  on 
their  guard  against  surprise,  and  in  constant 
readiness  to  resist  any  enterprise  that  might  be 
attempted. 

On  the  eighth  of  November,  instructions  had 
been  sent  to  General  Wilkinson,  to  hasten  on 
accommodations  with  the  Spanish  commander 
on  the  Sabine,  and  fall  back  with  his  principal 
force  on  the  hither  bank  of  the  Mississippi.* 

*  Jefferson's  Message  of  22d  January,  1807. 


PROCEEDINGS  OP  GENERAL  WILKINSON.  81 

This  order,  however,  had  been  anticipated  by 
Wilkinson,  who,  on  the  fifth  of  the  same  month, 
three  days  previous  to  the  despatch  of  the  in 
structions,  having  received  intelligence  that  the 
Spanish  camp  on  the  Sabine  would  be  broken  up 
on  that  day,  began  his  march  towards  Natchi- 
toches.  Immediately  on  his  arrival  there,  he 
had  directed  Porter  to  proceed  with  the  utmost 
expedition,  and  to  repair,  mount,  and  equip  for 
service,  every  piece  of  ordnance  in  the  city ;  to 
employ  all  hands  in  preparing  shells,  grape,  can 
ister  and  musket  cartridges,  with  buck-shot ;  to 
have  every  fieldpiece  ready,  with  horse,  har 
ness  and  drag-rope,  and  to  mount  six  or  eight 
battering  cannons  on  fort  St.  Charles  and  fort 
St.  Louis — below  and  above  the  city — and  along 
its  front,  flanks  and  rear. 

Porter  left  Natchitoches  with  all  the  artifices, 
and  company  of  one  hundred  men,  and  had  been 
followed  by  Gushing  with  the  rest  of  the  forces, 
leaving  only  one  company  behind.  "Wilkinson, 
on  his  way  to  New  Orleans,  stopped  at  Natchez, 
and  made  application  to  the  Executive  of  the 
Mississippi  Territory  for  a  detachment  of  five 
hundred  men  of  its  militia  to  proceed  with  him ; 
but,  declining  to  communicate  his  motives,  in 
making  the  requisition,  the  governor  refused  a 
compliance  with  so  mysterious  a  demand. 


82  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

From  this  place,  Wilkinson,  on  the  fifteenth 
of  November,  despatched  Burling,  one  of  his 
aids,  to  Mexico,  for  the  ostensible  purpose  of  ap 
prising  the  Viceroy  of  the  danger  with  which  his 
sovereign's  dominions  were  menaced  ;  but,  in 
reality,  (as  the  general  mentions  in  his  memoirs,) 
on  grounds  of  public  policy  and  professional  en 
terprise,  to  attempt  to  penetrate  the  veil  which 
concealed  the  topographical  rout  to  the  city  of 
Mexico,  and  the  military  defences  which  inter 
vened — feeling  that  the  equivocal  relation  of  the 
two  countries  justified  the  ruse.* 

As  soon  as  Wilkinson  arrived  in  New  Orleans, 
he  held  an  interview  with  Governor  Claiborne ; 
at  which  time  it  was  deemed  expedient  to  con 
voke  the  merchants  of  the  city,  to  adopt  precau 
tionary  measures  for  their  security.  The  latter, 
in  an  animated  address,  exhorted  them  to  assist 
him  in  his  efforts  for  the  defence  of  the  city,  and 
solemnly  swore,  in  the  enthusiastic  style  pecu 
liar  to  him,  that,  if  it  were  taken  by  the  vessels, 
he  would  perish  in  the  endeavour  to  repel  the 
assault.  The  meeting  adopted,  unanimously, 
some  spirited  and  patriotic  resolutions.  A  con 
siderable  sum  was  subscribed  to  be  distributed  as 
bounty  among  such  sailors  as  might  engage  to 

*  Martin's  History  of  Louisiana. 


BLENNERHASSETT  RETURNS  HOME.       83 

serve  on  board  the  ships.  Many  of  the  guns  of 
the  city  were  placed  upon  the  merchantmen  in 
the  river ;  and  a  respectable  fleet  was  suddenly 
formed,  to  oppose  that  of  the  British,  which  was 
expected  from  the  West  Indies. 

In  the  meanwhile,  Blennerhassett,  having  re 
ceived  information  from  his  wife,  (who  despatched 
to  him  a  special  messenger  for  that  purpose,)  that 
his  affairs  were  in  danger,  and  required  his  im 
mediate  attention,  left  Kentucky,  about  the  first 
of  October,  for  home.  Near  Point  Pleasant,  he 
again  met  with  Mr.  Mercer,  at  the  house  of  Col. 
Andrew  Lewis,  a  veteran  in  the  revolutionary 
and  various  Indian  wars. 

In  conversation,  he  adverted,  with  much  sen 
sibility,  to  the  reports  in  circulation,  relevant  to 
Aaron  Burr  and  himself,  which  were  daily  be 
coming  more  exaggerated,  all  of  which  he  de 
clared  were  utterly  false.  He  was  the  last  man 
in  the  world,  he  said,  who  would  disturb  the 
peace  and  impair  the  prosperity  of  the  United 
States.  Weary  of  political  situations,  in  his  na 
tive  country,  he  had  sought  and  found  an  asylum 
in  America,  the  tranquillity  of  which  he  could 
never  violate.  He  had,  indeed,  he  admitted, 
united  with  Col.  Burr,  (whom  public  rumour 
had  injured  as  much  as  himself,)  in  the  plan  of 
colonizing  and  improving  a  large  tract  of  country, 


84  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

on  the  Bed  river,  originally  granted  by  the  King 
of  Spain,  to  Baron  Bastrop,  and  lately  purchased 
by  Burr,  of  a  gentleman  in  Kentucky.  The 
tract  contained  eight  hundred  thousand  acres; 
and  the  consideration  which  Col.  Burr  and  him 
self  were  to  pay  for  it,  was  forty  thousand  dol 
lars  ;  but,  by  distributing  a  part  of  it  in  hundred- 
acre  farms,  among  a  number  of  emigrants,  they 
had  no  doubt,  on  the  most  moderate  estimate,  of 
being  able  to  raise  the  value  of  the  remainder  to 
more  than  one  million  of  dollars. 

Shortly  after  his  arrival  at  the  island,  Blen- 
nerhassett  was  joined  by  Burr,  who  had  also 
returned  from  Kentucky  and  his  journey  through 
Ohio.  He  did  not  remain  long,  however,  at  the 
scene  of  preparations  on  the  Muskingum. 
Having  completed  his  arrangements,  he  left 
Blennerhassett  to  superintend  the  construction 
of  the  boats ;  to  make  the  necessary  preparation ; 
and  to  follow  him,  as  soon  as  practicable,  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Cumberland,  with  the  men,  provi 
sions  and  boats. 

Burr  proceeded  down  the  Ohio  to  Kentucky, 
where  he  had  hardly  landed,  before  he  was  ar 
rested,  and  carried  before  the  United  States' 
Court,  on  a  charge  of  "  treasonable  practices,  and 
a  design  to  attack  the  Spanish  domains,  and 
thereby  endanger  the  peace  of  the  United  States." 


BLENNERHASSETT'S  CONFERENCE  WITH  GRAHAM.    85 

The  arrest  was  premature,  and  Burr  was  dis 
charged  for  want  of  evidence. 

Near  the  middle  of  November,  Graham,  the 
government's  confidential  agent,  proceeded  to 
Marietta,  where  extensive  preparations  were 
going  on.  Here  he  met,  and  held  an  interview 
with  Blennerhassett.  After  discoursing  upon 
the  subject  of  the  expedition,  with  a  frankness 
which  was  only  warranted  by  a  well-founded 
belief,  (from  what  Burr  had  previously  inti 
mated,)  that  Graham  was  considered  as  one  of 
the  recruits,  Blennerhassett  read  to  him  some 
communications  he  had  just  received,  by  the 
hand  of  Capt.  Elliot,  and  also  one  from  Burr,  in 
relation  to  his  arrest  and  trial  at  Frankfort,  upon 
which  Blennerhassett  animadverted  with  great 
severity.  Graham,  finding  Blennerhassett  was 
labouring  under  a  delusion,  in  regard  to  the  part 
that  he  was  to  perform  in  the  transaction,  in 
formed  him  that  Burr's  representations,  as  to 
him  (Graham)  being  with  or  favouring  the  ex 
pedition,  were  groundless.  With  no  little  sur 
prise,  he  asked  Graham  whether  he  had  not 
heard  of  an  association,  in  New  Orleans,  for  the 
invasion  of  Mexico.  Upon  Graham  venturing 
to  assure  him  that  there  was  no  such  an  associa 
tion  there,  Blennerhassett  stated  that ,  he  had 
been  informed,  by  Bradford,  the  printer  of  the 


86  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

"Gazette  d'Orleans,"  that  about  three  hundred 
men  had  already  joined  the  expedition. 

Considering  Blennerhassett  most  cruelly  de 
ceived,  Graham  endeavoured  to  draw  him  off 
from  the  undertaking,  in  which  he  was  engaged; 
and  conceiving  it  the  policy  of  the  government 
to  prevent,  rather  than  to  punish  such  enter 
prises,  he  informed  Blennerhassett  that,  so  far 
from  being  concerned  in  the  plan,  he  was  the 
government's  authorized  agent  to  inquire  into 
the  facts  relative  to  the  enterprise,  in  the  western 
country,  and  to  take  such  steps  as  might  be  ne 
cessary  for  repressing  it.  He  then  stated  to  Mr. 
Blennerhassett,  from  reasons  drawn  from  Burr's 
visit  to  New  Orleans,  during  the  preceding  sum 
mer — from  the  information  which  the  govern 
ment  had  received — and  from  the  nature  of  the 
preparations  which  Blennerhassett  himself  was 
then  making,  why  he  believed  the  object  of  Burr 
was  either  to  attack  the  territories  of  Spain  or 
those  of  the  United  States; — and  added,  that 
any  collection  of  armed  men  on  the  Ohio  river, 
would,  under  the  circumstances,  be  considered  a 
violation  of  the  laws,  and  repressed  accordingly. 

The  object  and  extent  of  the  preparations  at 
Marietta  having  been  fully  ascertained,  by  Gra 
ham,  according  to  instructions,  he  visited  the 
Governor  of  Ohio,  at  Chillicothe,  to  procure  the 


OHIO  MILITIA  ORDERED  OUT.  87 

aid  of  the  State  authorities,  in  suppressing  the 
suspected  formidable  measures.  Governor  Tiffin 
communicated  the  matter  to  the  Legislature — 
then  in  session,  whereupon  an  act  was  immedi 
ately  passed,  entitled  "An  Act  to  prevent  cer 
tain  acts  hostile  to  the  peace  and  tranquillity  of 
the  United  States,  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
State  of  Ohio."* 

Under  this  act,  Governor  Tiffin  ordered  out 
the  militia  of  the  adjacent  neighbourhood,  under 
command  of  Major-general  Buell,  of  Marietta, 
with  instructions,  to  that  officer,  to  take  forcible 
possession  of  the  boats  and  stores,  not  only  upon 
the  Muskingum,  but  also  of  all  others  of  a  sus 
picious  character  descending  the  Ohio. 

A  warlike  array  of  undisciplined  militia,  with 
cannon,  necessary  equipage  and  arms,  stationed 
themselves  along  the  banks  of  the  river,  to  cut 
off  the  forces  expected  from  above.  Many  amu 
sing  jokes  were  played  off  at  the  expense  of  the 
raw  recruits  during  this  campaign ; — such  as  set 
ting  an  empty  tar-barrel  on  fire,  and  placing  it 
in  an  old  boat  or  raft  of  logs,  to  float  by  in  the 
darkness  of  the  night.  The  sentries,  after  duly 
hailing,  and  receiving  no  answer,  would  fire  a 
shot  to  enforce  their  command ;  but  still  "  dread 

*  Chase's  Statutes  of  Ohio,  vol.  i.  p.  553. 


88  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

silence  reigned/'  and  calmly  the  phantom  vessel, 
with  her  stolid  crew,  floated  onward  and  down 
ward,  in  utter  recklessness — as  if  the  crowing  of 
a  farm-house  cock  only  had  disturbed  the  night's 
calm  silence.  Irritated  at  such  manifest  con 
tempt  of  their  high  authority,  they  plunged  into 
the  stream  to  seize  the  boat  and  capture  its 
luckless  navigators ;  when,  "  confusion  utterly 
confounded !"  naught  appeared  but  the  remains 
of  a  log  and  a  barrel,  which  some  laughter-loving 
wag  had  freighted  for  their  mischance  and  his 
amusement. 

On  another  occasion,  they  had  learned  that 
Tyler*  and  his  men  had  passed  down  the  river 
as  far  as  Blennerhassett's  island,  from  whence  he 
was  expected  to  return,  to  recapture  the  boats 
and  provisions.  To  cut  off  all  possible  commu 
nication  with  Marietta,  where  the  boats  were 
tied,  particular  instructions  were  given,  in  the 
evening,  to  bring  away  all  the  water-crafts  from 
the  lower  side  of  the  Muskingum.  Several  sailors, 
who  boarded  on  the  opposite  shore,  considered 
the  opportunity  for  sport  too  favourable  to  pass 
unimproved.  The  plan  first  proposed,  for  the 
accomplishment  of  this  end,  was  to  raise  an 
armed  party,  with  blank  cartridges,  and  fire  at 

*  Comfort  Tyler  was  one  of  Burr's  principal  captains. 


ANECDOTES.  89 

the  sentinels.  Upon  strict  search,  however,  they 
found  that  all  the  muskets,  blunderbusses,  rifles, 
and  shot-guns,  had  been  previously  appropriated 
by  the  militia.  The  cannon  was  then  thought 
of,  when  this,  also,  it  was  ascertained,  had  been 
called  to  the  aid  of  the  State  authorities.  Deter 
mined  not  to  be  defeated,  in  the  laugh  they  had 
promised  themselves,  they  resorted  to  the  expe 
dient  of  emptying  a  half-keg  of  powder  into  a 
canvas  sack,  wrapping  it  closely  with  twine. 
This  they  deposited  under  ground,  care  being 
taken  to  leave  a  communication  with  the  con 
tents  by  means  of  a  priming-hole  and  slow-match. 
At  midnight,  when  all,  save  the  faithful  and 
lonely  sentinels,  were  enjoying  that  repose  so 
necessary  to  the  refreshment  of  the  wearied  sol 
dier,  after  a  destructive  attack 

"  On  whisky  and  peach-brandy,"* 

A  confused  and  foreboding  sound,  from  the  oppo 
site  shore,  grated  unmusically  on  the  ear  of  the 
guards.  Although  appearances  were  somewhat 
ominous,  yet  they  concluded  not  to  disturb  the 
slumbers  of  their  brothers  in  arms  until  a  more  sa 
tisfactory  demonstration  had  been  made.  For  this 
opportunity  they  were  not  kept  long  in  suspense. 
Suddenly  the  earth  began  to  heave  and  throe, 


See  Appendix,  No.  3. 
8* 


90  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

as  if  drunk  with  the  heel-taps  of  the  soldier's 
glasses,  and,  following  in  quick  succession,  a 
report,  that  many  mistook  for  the  summoning 
trump  of  the  end  of  time.  The  scene  which 
succeeded  is  more  easily  imagined  than  described. 
Those  less  confused,  did,  indeed,  take  time  to 
adjust  their  out-side  garments,  but  much  the 
greater  number  started  with  nothing  but  their 
nether  vestments,  without  regard  to  uniform  or 
military  parade.  Here  stood  one,  vainly  strug 
gling  to  thrust  his  feet  through  the  arm-holes 
and  sleeves  of  his  linsey  luarmm,  while,  at  his 
side,  a  companion  had  drawn  his  pants  over  his 
shoulders,  illustrating,  most  ludicrously,  but  lite 
rally,  the  lines  of  doggerel : — 

"  Put  on  his  shirt  outside  his  coat, 
And  tied  his  breeches  round  his  throat." 

Shivering,  in  the  chill  winds  of  December, 
they  "  hurried  in  hot  haste"  to  the  tanta-ran-ta 
of  the  trumpeter,  and  the  rub-a-dub-dub  of  the 
"  drum-major-general."  Whether  any  had  taken 
the  precaution  to  "load"  or  "prime"  is  a  ques 
tion  which  time  and  reflection  have  never  settled. 
The  major,  who  was  a  tailor,  is  said  to  have 
charged  the  cannon  with  his  goose; — the  State 
having  made  no  provision  for  ammunition.  The 
deputy,  as  he  mounted  his  horse,  was  heard  to 


MERCER'S  VISIT.  91 

say,  that,  "  as  great  men  were  scarce,  he  thought 
it  best  to  flee  from  danger."  Had  Tyler  and  his 
men  been  the  real  cause  of  their  alarm,  he  would 
doubtless  have  met  with  a  stern  resistance,  but, 
fortunately  for  him,  he  was  unconsciously  asleep 
at  the  island.* 

On  Saturday  evening,  the  6th  of  December, 
Mr.  Mercer,  in  the  course  of  his  journey  east  of 
the  mountains,  stopped  at  the  island,  with  the 
view  of  purchasing  this  "most  elegant  seat  in 
Virginia."  Finding,  however,  that  Blennerhas- 
sett  estimated  it  at  fifty  thousand  dollars,  which 
(he  remarked)  was  ten  thousand  less  than  it 
had  cost  him,  Mr.  Mercer  abandoned  the  idea  of 
purchasing ;  and  the  rest  of  his  time,  during  the 
visit,  was  spent  in  conversation  with  Blennerhas- 
sett  and  his  accomplished  lady.  It  turned  upon 
his  removal  to  the  "  Washita" — the  name  of  his 
new  purchase.  With  great  earnestness,  he  pressed 
Mr.  Mercer  to  become  a  participant ; — suggesting 
how  much  it  would  augment  his  fortune,  and 
enforcing  the  inducement  by  an  assurance  that 
the  society  he  invited  him  to  join  would  soon 
become  the  most  agreeable  and  select  in  America. 
He  spoke  of  Burr  as  the  moral  head  of  it ;  and 
when  Mr.  Mercer  expressed  a  doubt  of  the  per- 

*  See  the  description,  by  General  Tupper,  in  the  Appendix,  No.  3. 


92  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

manency  and  happiness  of  a  union  formed  under 
such  auspices,  and  dwelt  upon  such  traits  of 
Burr's  general  character  as  he  deemed  exception 
able,  Blennerhassett  vindicated  him,  with  the 
enthusiasm  of  an  ardent  admirer. 

Blennerhassett,  having  intended  to  visit  Ma 
rietta  on  Sunday  evening,  Mr.  Mercer  proposed 
accompanying  him,  as  that  was  directly  on  his 
route.  As  a  tribute  of  merited  gratitude,  he 
remarks,  that  he  left  the  mansion  in  perfect  good 
will  to  all  its  inhabitants;  regretting  that  the 
engagements  of  its  proprietor  and  his  own  dreary 
journey,  but  just  begun  in  the  commencement  of 
winter,  forbade  him  to  prolong  a  visit  which, 
although  so  transient,  had  afforded  him  so  much 
pleasure.  All  that  he  had  seen  or  heard  corres 
ponded  so  little  with  the  criminal  designs  im 
puted  to  Blennerhassett,  that,  if  he  could  have 
visited  him  with  unfavourable  sentiments,  they 
would  have  vanished  before  the  light  of  a  species 
of  evidence  which,  if  not  reducible  to  the  strictest 
rules  of  legal  testimony,  had,  nevertheless,  a 
potent  influence  over  all  sensitive  hearts ;  and 
which,  though  it  do  not  possess  the  formal  sanc 
tion  of  an  oath,  hath  often  in  it  a  great  deal 
more  truth  than  statements  thus  verified. 

"  What !"  remarks  Mr.  Mercer,  "  will  a  man 
who,  weary  of  the  agitations  of  the  world — of  its 


MERCER'S  VISIT.  93 

noise  and  vanity,  has  unambitiously  retired  to  a 
solitary  island  in  the  heart  of  a  desert,  and  cre 
ated  a  terrestrial  paradise,  the  very  flowers,  and 
shrubs,  and  vines  of  which  he  had  planted  and 
nurtured  with  his  own  hands ;  a  man  whose  soul 
is  accustomed  to  toil  in  the  depths  of  literature ; 
whose  ear  is  framed  to  the  harmony  of  sound, 
and  whose  touch  and  breath  daily  awaken  it 
from  a  variety  of  melodious  instruments;  will 
such  a  man  start  up,  in  the  decline  of  life,  from 
the  pleasing  dream  of  seven  years'  slumber,  to 
carry  fire  and  sword  to  the  peaceful  habitations 
of  men  who  have  never  done  him  wrong  ?  Are 
his  musical  instruments  and  his  library  to  become 
the  equipage  of  a  camp  ?  Will  he  expose  a  lovely 
and  accomplished  woman,  and  two  little  children, 
to  whom  he  seems  so  tenderly  attached,  to  the 
guilt  of  treason,  and  to  the  horrors  of  war ; — a 
treason  so  desperate  ? — a  war  so  unequal  ?  Were 
not  all  his  preparations  better  adapted  to  the 
innocent  and  useful  purpose  which  he  avowed, 
rather  than  to  the  criminal  and  hazardous  enter 
prise  which  was  imputed  to  him  ?  Whence  arose 
those  imputations?  From  his  union  with  Col. 
Burr.  But,  it  is  evident  he  has  been  led  to  this 
union  from  his  admiration  of  the  genius,  and 
confidence  in  the  virtue  and  honour  of  the  per 
son  with  whom  it  has  connected  him.  That 


94  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

which,  with  a  harsh-judging  world,  is  the  foun 
dation  of  a  belief  of  his  guilt,  when  thoroughly 
and  candidly  examined,  carries  on  its  face,  there 
fore,  the  stamp  of  his  innocence." 

On  the  same  day  of  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Mercer 
at  the  island,  also  landed  Comfort  Tyler,  of  New 
York,  and  a  small  party  of  men  under  his  com 
mand.  He  found  Blennerhassett  much  disheart 
ened  as  to  the  enterprise,  and  nearly  resolved  to 
abandon  it  altogether.  Through  the  pursuasive 
eloquence  of  Mrs.  Blennerhassett,  however,  who 
had  now  enlisted  in  the  undertaking  with  her 
whole  soul,  and  the  arrival  of  Tyler's  men,  "  the 
lord  of  the  isle,"  as  if  some  demon  of  evil  haunted 
his  footsteps,  and  urged  him  on  to  an  unknown 
destiny,  yielding  rather  to  the  wishes  of  others 
than  to  the  sounder  dictates  of  his  own  better 
judgment — again  embarked  his  fortune  and  fame 
in  the  enterprise  of  Burr. 

On  the  eighth  of  December,  1806,  favoured  by 
the  darkness  of  the  night,  a  company  of  young 
men  from  Belpre  attempted,  secretly,  to  bring 
away  the  boats  and  stores  ready  for  embarka 
tion.  They  had  nearly  succeeded,  when  their 
movements  were  observed  by  the  militia,  and  all 
of  the  boats  but  one  were  captured.  This,  with 
its  party,  successfully  reached  the  island,  notwith 
standing  the  efforts  of  the  guards  to  prevent  it. 


LETTER  TO  GEN.  WILKINSON.  95 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Burr  despatches  Swartwout  to  Wilkinson — Letter — Wilkinson  com 
municates  its  substance  to  the  President — Proclamation  of  the 
President — Virginia  militia  called  out  under  command  of  Col. 
Hugh  Phelps — Blennerhassett  escapes  with  Tyler  and  his  forces 
down  the  Ohio — Phelps  proceeds  to  the  island — Finds  it  deserted 
— Ineffectual  attempt  to  arrest  Blennerhassett  at  Point  Pleasant — 
Effect  of  the  President's  Proclamation  trusted  to  for  some  time  in 
the  State  of  Tennessee — But  similar  instructions  sent  to  that  State 
also — Graham  leaves  Frankfort  for  Nashville — The  movements  of 
Burr — Kentucky  militia  ordered  out — Burr's  Flotilla — Burr  leaves 
the  Cumberland — Lands  at  Fort  Massac — Is  visited  by  the  com 
mander,  Captain  Bissell— Supplies  Burr  with  a  messenger  to  con 
vey  a  letter  to  the  Lead  Mines  in  Missouri — His  wife  presents  Burr 
with  provisions — Burr  and  his  party  proceed  to  Chickasaw  Bluffs 
— Has  an  interview  with  the  commander,  Lieutenant  Jacob  Jack 
son — Fails  in  his  designs — Communication  of  the  President  to 
Wilkinson — Burr  supplies  himself  with  lead, tomahawks,  &c.,  and 
proceeds  to  Palmyra,  and  thence  to  Bayou  Pierre. 

ON  the  twenty-ninth  of  July,  1806,  Burr  had 
despatched,  by  the  hands  of  Swartwout,  to  Gen. 
Wilkinson,  the  following  communication,  in  cy 
pher,  from  Philadelphia. 

"I  have  obtained  funds  and  have  actually 
commenced  the  enterprise  ....  detachments  from 
different  points,  and  under  different  pretences, 


96  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

will  rendezvous  on  the  Ohio,  1st  Nov.  Every 
thing,  internal  and  external  favours  views.  Pro 
tection  of  England  is  secured.  T is  going  to 

Jamaica  to  arrange  with  the  admiral  on  that 
station:  it  will  meet  on  the  Mississippi.  Eng 
land  ....  navy  of  the  United  States  are  ready  to 
join,  and  final  orders  are  given  to  my  friends 
and  followers ....  it  will  be  a  host  of  choice  spirits 
....  Wilkinson  shall  be  second  to  Burr  only. — 
Wilkinson  shall  dictate  the  rank  and  promotions 
of  his  officers. — Burr  will  proceed  westward,  1st 
August ....  never  to  return  ....  with  him  go  his 
daughter  ....  the  husband  will  follow,  in  October, 

with  a  corps  of  worthies,  and  —  send  forth with 

an  intelligent  and  confidential  friend,  with  whom 
Burr  may  confer.  He  shall  return  immediately, 
with  further  interesting  details — this  is  essential 
to  concert  and  harmony  of  movement.  Send  a 
list  of  all  persons  known  to  Wilkinson  west  of  the 
mountains,  who  may  be  useful,  with  a  note  deli 
neating  their  character.  By  your  messenger, 
send  me  four  or  five  of  the  commissions  of  your 
officers,  which  you  can  borrow  under  any  pre 
tence  you  please. — They  shall  be  returned  faith 
fully.  Already  are  orders  given  to  the  con 
tractor  to  forward  six  months'  provision  to  points 
Wilkinson  may  name;  this  shall  not  be  used 
until  the  last  moment,  and  then  under  proper 


LETTER  TO  GEN.  WILKINSON.  97 

injunctions ;  the  project  is  brought  to  a  point  so 
long  desired.  Burr  guarantees  the  result  with 
his  life  and  honour — with  the  lives,  and  honour, 
and  the  fortunes  of  hundreds,  the  best  blood  of 
our  country.  Burr's  plan  of  operation  is  to  move 
down  rapidly,  from  the  falls,  on  the  15th  of  No 
vember,  with  the  first  five  hundred  or  one  thou 
sand  men,  in  light  boats  now  constructing  for 
that  purpose,  to  be  at  Natchez  between  the  5th 
and  15th  of  December — there  to  meet  Wilkinson 
— there  to  .determine  whether  it  will  be  expe 
dient,  in  the  first  instance,  to  seize  on,  or  pass 
by,  Baton  Rouge  ....  on  receipt  of  this,  send  Burr 
an  answer, ....  draw  on  Burr  for  all  expenses,  &c. 
The  people  of  the  country  to  which  we  are  going 
are  prepared  to  receive  us ;  their  agents,  now 
with  Burr,  say  that  if  we  will  protect  their  reli 
gion,  and  will  not  subject  them  to  a  foreign 
power,  that,  in  three  weeks,  all  will  be  settled. 
The  gods  invite  to  glory  and  fortune — it  remains 
to  be  seen  whether  we  deserve  the  boon.  The 
bearer  of  this  goes  express  to  you ;  he  will  hand 
a  formal  letter  of  introduction  to  you,  from  Burr, 
he  is  a  man  of  inviolable  honour  and  perfect  dis 
cretion,  formed  to  execute  rather  than  project — 
capable  of  relating  facts  with  fidelity,  and  in 
capable  of  relating  them  otherwise.  He  is 
thoroughly  informed  of  the  plans  and  intentions 

9 


98  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

of and  will  disclose  to  you,  as  far  as  you 

inquire  and  no  farther ;  he  has  imbibed  a  rever 
ence  for  your  character,  and  may  be  embarrassed 
in  your  presence ;  put  him  at  ease,  and  he  will 
satisfy  you." 

Wilkinson,  having  received  this  despatch  some 
time  in  November,  communicated  its  substance 
to  the  President,  who,  on  the  twenty-seventh  of 
the  same  month  issued  the  following 

PROCLAMATION. 

Whereas,  information  has  been  received,  that 
sundry  persons,  citizens  of  the  United  States  or 
residents  within  the  same,  are  conspiring  and 
confederating  together,  to  begin  and  set  on  foot, 
provide  and  prepare,  the  means  for  a  military 
expedition,  or  enterprise,  against  the  dominions 
of  Spain ;  that,  for  this  purpose,  they  are  fitting 
out  and  arming  vessels,  in  the  Western  waters 
of  the  United  States ;  collecting  provisions,  arms, 
military  stores  and  other  means ;  are  deceiving 
and  seducing  honest  and  well-meaning  citizens, 
under  various  pretences,  to  engage  in  their  crimi 
nal  enterprises  ;  are  organizing  officers,  and  arm 
ing  themselves,  for  the  same,  contrary  to  the 
laws  in  such  case  made  and  provided : — I  have 
thought  fit,  therefore,  to  issue  this  my  proclamc^- 
tion,  warning  and  enjoining  all  faithful  citizens, 


PROCLAMATION  OF  THE  PRESIDENT.  99 

who  have  been  led,  without  due  knowledge  or 
consideration,  to  participate  in  the  said  unlawful 
enterprises,  to  withdraw  from  the  same  without 
delay :  and  commanding  all  persons  whatsoever, 
engaged  or  concerned  in  the  same,  to  cease  all 
further  proceedings  therein,  as  they  will  answer 
the  contrary  at  their  peril,  and  incur  prosecution 
with  all  the  rigours  of  the  law.  And  I  hereby 
enjoin  and  require  all  officers,  civil  and  military, 
of  the  United  States  or  of  any  of  the  States  or 
territories,  and  especially  all  governors  and  other 
executive  authorities;  all  judges,  justices  and 
other  officers  of  the  peace;  all  military  officers 
of  the  army  and  navy  of  the  United  States,  and 
officers  of  the  militia ;  to  be  vigilant,  each  within 
his  respective  department,  and  according  to  his 
functions,  in  searching  out  and  bringing  to  con 
dign  punishment,  all  persons  engaged  or  con 
cerned  in  such  enterprise,  in  seizing  and  retaining, 
subject  to  the  disposition  of  the  law,  all  vessels, 
arms,  military  stores  or  other  means,  provided  or 
providing  for  the  same,  and,  in  general,  in  pre 
venting  the  carrying  on  such  expedition  or  enter 
prise,  by  all  the  lawful  means  within  their 
power ;  and  I  require  all  good  and  faithful  citi 
zens,  and  others,  within  the  United  States,  to  be 
aiding  and  assisting  herein,  and  especially  in  the 
discovery,  apprehension  and  bringing  to  justice 


100  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

of  all  such  offenders,  in  preventing  the  execution 
of  their  unlawful  designs,  and  in  giving  informa 
tion  against  them  to  the  proper  authorities. 
In  testimony,  &c. 

THOMAS  JEFFERSON. 
By  the  President : 

JAMES  MADISON, 
Secretary  of  State. 

Under  the  authority,  and  by  virtue  of  this  pro 
clamation,  the  Virginia  militia,  of  Wood  county, 
were  called  out,  by  command  of  Col.  Hugh  Phelps, 
of  Parkersburg,*  as  soon  as  he  had  received  in 
telligence  of  the  same,  which  was  not  until  the 
eighth  or  ninth  of  December. 

On  the  tenth  of  the  month,  Blennerhassett, 
having  received  information  of  the  preparations 
making  by  Col.  Phelps,  (who,  it  was  expected, 
would  march  to  the  island  on  the  following  day,) 
to  take  possession  of  his  person,  boats,  and  stores, 
departed,  under  cover  of  night,  with  Tyler  and 
his  forces,  leaving  Mrs.  Blennerhassett,  with  the 
two  little  boys,  to  follow. 

In  thus  abandoning  the  tender  partner  of  his 
bosom,  and  those  lesser  lights  of  his  affectionate 
regard,  Blennerhassett  had  not  mistaken  the 

*  A  town  in  Virginia,  two  miles  above  Blennerhassett's  island, 


COL.  PHELPS  TAKES  POSSESSION  OF  THE  ISLAND.  101 

character  of  the  individual  who,  he  rightly  pre 
sumed,  was  soon  to  take  charge  of  his  mansion. 
From  intimate  association  with  the  man,  he 
knew  that  innocence  and  feebleness  would  ever 
be  sacredly  regarded  by  Col.  Phelps ;  that,  while 
duty  to  the  calls  of  his  country  compelled  him  to 
exercise  the  functions  of  his  office,  and  that,  too, 
in  defeating  the  plans  of  his  most  intimate  friend 
and  associate,  that  power  would  be  exerted  with 
the  strictest  adherence  to  the  laws  of  humanity 
and  the  highest  sentiments  of  honour ;  that  while 
no  menaces  would  deter  him  from  the  disagree 
able  duty  imposed,  no  act  of  wanton  violence 
should  stain  the  honour  of  the  friend. 

On  the  succeeding  morning,  Col.  Phelps,  with 
a  small  body  of  men,  proceeded  to  the  island. 
They  found  it  deserted  by  its  proprietor.  In 
quiries  were  made,  among  the  servants,  who 
informed  them  of  the  circumstances  of  the  pre 
ceding  evening;  adding,  that  Mrs.  Blennerhas- 
sett  was  then  on  her  way  to  Marietta,  to  secure, 
if  possible,  the  boat  originally  constructed  for  the 
conveyance  of  Blennerhassett  and  his  family  to 
the  Washita. 

Leaving  the  greater  portion  of  his  men  in  pos 
session  of  the  premises,  Col.  Phelps  started  across 
the  country  to  intercept  the  descending  boats,  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Great  Kanawha.  None  having 


102  "LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

passed,  during  the  previous  day,  answering  to 
the  description  of  those  of  which  he  was  in  pur 
suit,  Col.  Phelps  informed  the  citizens  of  his 
designs,  and  procured  a  party  to  watch  the  river 
that  night.  Accordingly,  a  large  fire  was  built 
upon  the  bank  of  the  river,  around  which  the 
watch  attempted  to  keep  their  midnight  vigils. 
Following  that  ancient  custom  of  "  keeping  the 
spirits  up  by  pouring  spirits  down" — like  the 
model  "officer,"  who  was  enamoured  of  the 
"landlady  of  France" — their  revels  propitiated 
the  sleepy  god,  and  a  sweet  forgetfulness  of 
earthly  cares  and  earthly  duties  soon  gave  evi 
dence  of  quiet  consciences.  Taking  advantage 
of  the  darkness  of  the  night,  Blennerhassett 
glided  silently  by,  without  disturbing  the  slum 
bers  of  the  guard,  and,  before  the  early  dawn, 
was  many  miles  beyond  his  discomfited  pur 
suers.  At  the  mouth  of  the  Cumberland,  he 
joined  the  flotilla  of  Burr,  which  was  then 
awaiting  accessions  both  from  that  and  the  Ohio 
river. 

Not  apprized,  till  late,  that  boats  were  being 
constructed  on  the  Cumberland,  the  effect  of  the 
President's  proclamation  had  been  trusted  to,  for 
some  time,  in  the  State  of  Tennessee ;  but,  on 
the  19th  of  December,  similar  communications 
and  instructions  with  those  of  the  neighbouring 


BURR'S  FLOTILLA.  103 

States,  were  despatched,  by  express,  to  the  go 
vernor,  and  a  general  officer  of  the  western  divi 
sion  of  the  State;  and,  on  the  2  3d,  Graham,  the 
agent,  left  Frankfort  for  Nashville,  to  put  into 
activity  the  means  of  that  State  also.  Burr, 
however,  had  been  too  prompt,  in  his  move 
ments,  for  the  agents  of  the  government.  On 
the  22d  of  the  same  month,  he  had  descended 
the  Cumberland,  with  two  boats,  laden  with  pro 
vision  and  a  few  additional  forces. 

The  Governor  of  Kentucky,  after  the  arrest 
and  discharge  of  Burr,  hearing  of  his  arrival  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Cumberland,  with  a  flotilla  of 
numerous  vessels;  and  that  he  was  there  con 
gregating  his  forces,  ordered  out  the  militia  for 
his  arrest,  but  Burr,  anticipating  the  movement, 
slipped  his  moorings,  and  proceeded  further  down 
the  river. 

The  flotilla  now  consisted  of  four  boats  under 
command  of  Tyler,  two  under  Burr,  two  under 
Floyd,  one  under  Ellis,  one  under  Blennerhas- 
sett,  and  a  commissary  boat,  under  Dean. 

On  the  evening  of  the  tAventy-ninth,  Burr 
stopped  a  short  distance  below  Fort  Massac,  then 
under  the  command  of  Capt.  Bissell.  The  fol 
lowing  morning,  he  was  visited,  at  his  boats,  by 
that  officer,  who  gave  him  a  polite  invitation  to 
visit  the  fort  and  partake  of  its  hospitalities.  It 


104  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

is  due  to  Capt.  Bissell  to  state,  (although  the  evi 
dence  on  this  point  is  conflicting,)  that  he  was, 
at  that  time,  without  any  instructions  from  the 
government.  He  remarks,  that  he  had  learned, 
unofficially,  of  Burr's  arrest  and  acquittal  in  Ken 
tucky;  hence,  he  concluded,  that  his  mission 
was  one  of  peace,  and  for  the  purpose,  ostensibly 
held  out,  "  of  colonizing  the  Bastrop  lands."  He 
furnished  Burr  with  a  messenger,  to  convey  a 
communication  to  the  lead  mines  in  Missouri,  as 
well  as  one  or  two  men  for  his  enterprise,  and  a 
small  quantity  of  provision ;  the  latter,  however, 
Bissell  asserts,  was  sent  by  his  wife,  who  was  an 
early  acquaintance  of  Burr,  and  who  returned  it, 
in  compliment  for  a  barrel  of  apples,  which  Burr 
had  forwarded  to  her. 

On  the  evening  of  the  third  of  January,  1807, 
Burr,  with  one  boat,  landed  at  Chickasaw  Bluffs, 
a  military  station  at  that  time  commanded  by 
Lieut.  Jacob  Jackson.  He  immediately  despatch 
ed  a  messenger  to  the  commander  of  the  fort,  to 
inquire  if  quarters  could  be  furnished  him  during 
the  night,  who  shortly  returned  with  an  affirma 
tive  answer.  The  following  morning,  he  had  an 
interview  with  Jackson,  on  the  subject  of  the 
expedition,  in  which  he  stated  that  he  was  going 
on  a  project  of  which  many  wished  to  know,  but, 
from  their  inquisitiveness,  he  was  not  disposed 


BURR  AT  CHICKASAW  BLUFFS.  105 

to  gratify  them,  but  assured  him  that  it  was  an 
enterprise  which  would  be  honourable  to  him, 
(Jackson,)  and  would  be  the  making  of  those 
who  should  follow  him,  provided  they  survived 
the  undertaking.  Every  argument  was  resorted 
to,  to  shake  the  fidelity  of  that  young  officer  to 
his  country,  and  prevail  on  him  to  join  the  ex 
pedition,  with  the  whole  of  the  forces  under  his 
command.  To  the  ardent  and  enthusiastic  mind 
of  youth,  panting  for  scenes  of  glory  and  distinc 
tion,  his  offers  of  fame  and  emolument  were 
truly  tempting;  particularly  as  they  were  en 
forced  by  the  sophistical  reasoning  of  that  astute 
and  experienced  diplomatist.  But,  to  his  honour, 
and  to  the  honour  of  American  youths — parti 
cularly  to  American  officers — he  foiled  the 
attempts  of  the  seducer,  and  came  off  moral 
victor  in  the  attack.  While  in  the  service  of  his 
country,  no  offer  of  wealth,  or  place,  or  power, 
could  decoy  him  from  the  path  of  rectitude. 
The  government  had  confided  the  command  of 
that  fort  to  his  youthful  hands,  and  so  long  as 
he  retained  that  trust,  his  best  energies  should  be 
exerted  to  preserve  it  with  fidelity  and  honour. 

On  the  third  of  January,  1807,  the  President 
despatched  the  following  communication  to  Gen. 
Wilkinson : — "  I  had  yesterday  intended  to  re 
commend,  to  Gen.  Dearborn,  the  writing  to  you, 


106  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

weekly,  by  post,  to  convey  information  of  our 
affairs,  in  the  west,  as  long  as  they  are  interest 
ing  ;  because  it  is  possible,  though  not  probable, 
you  might  sometimes  get  the  information  quicker, 
this  way,  than  down  the  river ;  but  the  general 
received,  yesterday,  information  of  the  death  of 
his  son,  in  the  East  Indies,  and,  of  course,  cannot 
now  attend  to  business.  I  therefore,  write  you 
a  hasty  line,  for  the  present  week,  and  send  it, 
in  duplicate,  by  the  Athens  and  Nashville  route. 
"  The  information,  in  the  enclosed  paper,  as  to 
proceedings  in  the  State  of  Ohio,  is  correct. 
Blennerhassett's  flotilla,  of  fifteen  boats  and  two 
hundred  barrels  of  provisions,  is  seized,  and  there 
can  be  no  doubt  that  Tyler's  flotilla  is  also 
taken;  because,  on  the  17th  December,  we  know 
there  was  a  sufficient  force  assembled  at  Cincin 
nati,  to  intercept  it  there,  and  another  party  was 
in  pursuit  of  it  on  the  river  above.  We  are 
assured  that  these  two  flotillas  composed  the 
whole  of  the  boats  provided.  Blennerhassett 
and  Tyler  had  fled  down  the  river.  I  do  not 
believe  that  the  number  of  persons  engaged  for 
Burr  has  ever  amounted  to  five  hundred ;  though 
some  have  carried  them  to  one  thousand  or  fif 
teen  hundred.  A  part  of  these  were  engaged  as 
settlers  of  Bastrop's  land,  but  the  greater  part 
were  engaged  under  the  express  assurance  that 


JEFFERSON'S  LETTER  TO  GEN.  WILKINSON.        107 

the  projected  enterprise  was  against  Mexico,  and 
secretly  authorized  by  this  government.  Many 
expressly  enlisted  in  the  name  of  the  United 
States.  The  proclamation;  which  reached  Pitts 
burgh,  December  second,  and  other  parts  of  the 
river  successively,  undeceived  both  these  classes ; 
and,  of  course,  drew  them  off;  and  I  have  never 
seen  any  proof  of  their  having  assembled  more 
than  forty  men,  in  two  boats,  from  Beaver,  fifty 
in  Tyler's  flotilla,  and  the  boatmen  of  Blenner- 
hassett.  I  believe,  therefore,  that  the  enterprise 
may  be  considered  as  crushed ;  but  we  are  not  to 
relax,  in  our  attentions,  until  we  hear  what  has 
passed  at  Louisville.  If  every  thing,  from  that 
place  upwards,  be  successfully  arrested,  there  is 
nothing  from  below  that  [is]  to  be  feared.  Be 
assured  that  Tennessee,  and,  particularly,  Gene 
ral  Jackson,  are  faithful.  The  orders  lodged  at 
Massac  and  the  Chickasaw  Bluffs  will  probably 
secure  the  interception  of  such  fugitives  from 
justice  as  may  escape  at  Louisville ;  so  that  I 
think  you  will  never  see  one  of  them.  Still,  I 
would  not  wish,  till  we  hear  from  Louisville, 
that  this  information  should  relax  your  prepara 
tions  in  the  least,  except  as  far  as  to  dispense 
with  the  militia  of  Mississippi  and  Orleans,  leav 
ing  their  homes,  under  our  orders  of  November 
twenty-fifth.  Only  let  them  consider  themselves 


108  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

under  requisition ;  and  be  in  a  state  of  readiness, 
should  any  force,  too  great  for  jour  regulars, 
escape  down  the  river.  You  will  have  been  sen 
sible  that  those  orders  were  given  while  we  sup 
posed  you  were  on  the  Sabine,  and  the  supposed 
crisis  did  not  admit  the  formality  of  their  being 
passed  by  you.  We  considered  Fort  Adams  as 
the  place  to  make  a  stand,  because  it  covered 
the  mouth  of  Red  River.  You  have  preferred 
New  Orleans,  on  the  apprehension  of  a  fleet  from 
the  West  Indies.  Be  assured,  there  is  not  any 
foundation  for  such  an  expectation;  but  the 
lying  exaggerations  of  these  traitors  to  impose 
on  others  and  swell  their  pretended  means.  The 
very  man  whom  they  reported  to  you  as  having 
gone  to  Jamaica  and  to  bring  the  fleet,  has  never 
been  from  home,  and  has  regularly  communi 
cated  to  me  every  thing  which  had  passed 
between  Burr  and  him.  France  or  Spain  would 
not  send  a  fleet  to  take  Yera  Cruz ;  and,  though 
one  of  the  expeditions,  now  near  arriving  from 
England,  is  probably  for  Yera  Cruz,  and  perhaps 
already  there,  yet  the  state  of  things  between  us 
renders  it  impossible  they  should  countenance 
an  enterprise  unauthorized  by  us.  Still,  I  repeat, 
that  these  grounds  of  security  must  not  stop  our 
proceedings  or  preparations  until  they  are  fur 
ther  confirmed.  Go  on,  therefore,  with  your 


PROGRESS  OF  BURR'S  FLOTILLA.  109 

works  for  the  defence  of  New  Orleans,  because 
they  will  always  be  useful,  only  looking  to  what 
should  be  permanent  rather  than  means  merely 
temporary.  You  may  expect  further  informa 
tion  as  we  receive  it;  and,  though  I  expect  it 
will  be  such  as  will  place  us  at  our  ease,  yet  we 
must  not  place  ourselves  so,  until  we  be  certain, 
but  act  on  the  possibility  that  the  resources  of 
our  enemy  may  be  greater  and  deeper  than  we 
are  yet  informed. 

"  Your  two  confidential  messengers  delivered 
their  charges  safely.  One  arrived  yesterday, 
only,  with  your  letter  of  November  12th.  The 
oral  communications  he  made  me  are  truly  im 
portant.  I  beseech  you,  take  the  most  special 
care  of  the  two  letters  which  he  mentioned  to 
me — the  one  in  cipher,  the  other  from  another 
conspirator  of  high  standing — and  send  them  to 
me  by  the  first  conveyance  you  can  trust.  It  is 
necessary  that  all  important  testimony  should  be 
brought  to  one  centre,  in  order  that  the  guilty 
may  be  convicted  and  the  innocent  left  un 
troubled." 

On  the  fifth  of  January,  having  supplied  him 
self  with  thirty  pounds  of  lead  and  three  dozen 
tomahawks,  together  with  other  articles,  Burr 
proceeded  down  to  Palmyra,  and  thence  to 

Bayou  Pierre. 

10 


110  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Morgan  Neville,  and  William  Robinson,  Junior — Embark  from  Pitts 
burgh  in  a  flat-boat — Espied  by  the  Wood  county  militia  and 
arrested — Escorted  to  the  island  to  await  the  return  of  Col.  Phelps 
— Difficulties  with  the  militia — Trial  of  the  young  men — Conduct 
of  the  militia  on  the  island — Mrs.  Blennerhassett's  return  from 
Marietta — Her  fortitude  on  the  occasion — Embarrassed  situation 

'  — Accepts  the  offer  of  the  young  men  to  convey  her  to  her  hus 
band — Col.  Phelps's  return  to  the  island — Young  men  embar 
rassed  at  the  announcement  of  his  arrival — Character  and  descrip 
tion  of  Col.  Phelps — Rebukes  the  militia  for  their  riotous  conduct 
— His  politeness  to  the  young  men — Proffers  his  services  in  ac 
celerating  Mrs.  Blennerhassett's  arrangement  to  go  to  her  husband 
— Apologizes  for  the  misbehaviour  of  his  men — Mrs.  Blennerhas- 
sett  prepares  to  depart — Leaves  the  island  in  company  with  the 
young  men — Passes  the  mouth  of  the  Cumberland — Disappointed  in 
not  finding  her  husband — Arrives  at  Bayou  Pierre,  and  is  restored 
to  Blennerhassett — Painful  situation  of  Burr  and  Blennerhassett 
— Burr  sinks  the  arms,  for  the  expedition,  in  the  Mississippi. 

MORGAN  NEVILLE  and  William  Robinson,  jun., 
with  a  party  of  fourteen  young  men,  early  in 
December,  embarked,  from  Pittsburgh,  in  a  flat- 
boat.  Most  of  these  were  sons  of  gentlemen  of 
affluence  and  ease,  who  knew  but  little  of  the 
realities  of  life,  further  than  was  learned  within 
the  walls  of  an  academy. 


CAPTURE  OF  NEVILLE'S  PARTY.  HI 

They  had  proceeded  down  the  river,  as  far  as 
Parkersburg,  when  their  boat  having  been  driven 
on  the  shore,  by  the  ice,  during  the  night,  they 
were  espied  by  the  Wood  county  militia,  and 
the  whole  party  arrested  as  accomplices  of  Burr. 

With  "savage  magnificence,"  they  were  es 
corted  to  the  island,  to  await  the  return  of  Col. 
Phelps,  who  was  then  absent,  at  Point  Pleasant, 
in  an  ineffectual  attempt  to  arrest  Blennerhas- 
sett.  Somewhat  chagrined  at  their  luckless 
adventure,  so  far,  the  young  men  endeavoured 
to  pass  their  time -as  pleasantly  as  possible,  by 
ridiculing  the  militia,  and  threatening  them  with 
the  strong  arm  of  the  law. 

But  the  intrepid  captors  were  not  to  be  de 
terred  from  duty.  They  parried  the  sarcasm  of 
their  adversaries,  and  occasionally  retorted  with 
considerable  effect.  The  impertinence  of  the 
captives,  at  length,  becoming  insupportable,  three 
justices  of  the  peace  were  sent  for,  to  institute 
an  examination  into  the  facts — to  commit,  for 
further  trial,  or  acquit,  the  young  men,  as  the 
evidence  might  warrant. 

They  were  accordingly  arraigned,  and,  after  a 
full  investigation  of  the  facts,  mostly  upon  the 
evidence  of  the  young  men  themselves,  the  court 
acquitted  them  of  all  hostile  designs  against  the 
United  States. 


112  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

i 

"  During  the  trial,  the  mob  spirit  of  the  militia 
began  to  run  riot,  and,  by  the  time  it  was  ended, 
all  was  confusion.  The  well-stored  cellars  of  the 
mansion  began  to  pour  forth  their  riches ;  drunk 
enness  ensued;  fences  were  torn  down,  to  pile 
upon  the  blazing  fire  of  the  sentinels ;  the  shrub 
bery  was  trampled  under  foot." 

In  the  midst  of  this  scene  of  confusion,  Mrs. 
Blennerhassett  returned,  from  her  unsuccessful 
visit  to  Marietta,  to  which  she  had  gone  to  pro 
cure  the  family  boat  of  Blennerhassett.  A  scene 
pf  such  desolation,  and  ruin  of  all  that  was  fair 
and  beautiful,  and  around  which  her  young  af 
fections  had  clung  with  fond  associations,  was 
calculated  to  crush  a  heart  whose  native  cha 
racter  was  remarkable  for  its  strong  attachments 
to  the  objects  of  its  love ;  but  she  had  long 
since  resigned  her  beautiful  abode,  for  the  more 
tempting  lands,  which  her  imagination  had 
dressed  in  fancy's  brightest  colours,  where  serener 
skies  and  gayer  flowers  "shed  their  mingled 
delights"  over  the  perennial  green  of  nature's 
bosom.  The  successful  issue  of  the  expedition 
was,  to  her,  a  matter  of  weightier  moment  than 
all  other  considerations ;  and,  thus  it  was,  she 
remained  unmoved  amid  the  general  wreck  of 
her  fair  possessions,  by  the  ruthless  mob. 

Her  situation,  however,  was  one  of  painful 


COL.  PHELPS.  113 

embarrassment.  Blennerhassett,  having  departed 
in  haste,  without  making  arrangements  for  her 
voyage,  and  the  refusal  of  the  authorities,  at 
Marietta,  to  deliver  her  the  boat,  constructed  for 
that  especial  purpose,  left  her,  for  a  time,  in 
almost  hopeless  despair  of  joining  her  husband, 
at  the  appointed  place.  The  weather  had  been 
intensely  cold,  and  the  fast  accumulating  ice,  in 
the  Ohio,  appeared  to  forbid  a  reunion  with 
Blennerhassett  until  the  following  spring,  when, 
in  all  probability,  she  could  only  find  him  in  the 
Spanish  dominions.  It  was,  therefore,  with 
feelings  of  mingled  gratitude  and  pleasure,  that 
she  accepted  the  proffer  of  a  room,  in  the  boat 
of  the  young  men,  who  promised  to  make  the 
accommodations  as  comfortable,  to  herself  and 
children,  as  the  circumstances  of  her  situation 
would  permit. 

During  the  course  of  the  evening,  Col.  Phelps 
returned  from  his  tour  across  the  country.  In 
this  unexpected  arrival,  the  young  men  had 
new  cause  of  anxiety  and  alarm.  They  had 
congratulated  themselves  upon  their  successful 
defeat  of  the  functionaries  of  the  law,  which  they 
attributed  mainly  to  their  superior  tact  in  mys 
tifying  their  judges,  and  intimidating  their  ac 
cusers;  but  here  was  one  who  could  not  be 
duped  by  sophistical  reasoning,  or  swerved  from 


114  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

his  duty  by  the  fear  of  consequences.  Although 
dressed  in  the  usual  style  of  the  backwoodsmen 
of  that  day,  the  careless  manner  in  which  he 
wore  his  garb  added  gracefulness  to  a  form  both 
attracting  and  commanding.  They  recognised 
in  him,  an  individual  of  physical  as  well  as 
intellectual  superiority,  and,  therefore,  wisely 
concluded  to  assume  a  different  bearing  from 
that  they  before  had  observed  towards  their 
captors  and  judges.* 

In  a  thoughtful  and  classic  attitude,  he  sur 
veyed  the  destruction  of  the  premises,  and  the 
evident  marks  of  bacchanalian  revelry  with 
which  the  party  under  his  command  had  dis 
graced  themselves ;  then,  turning  upon  them  a 
look  of  withering  rebuke,  he  spoke  in  such  terms 
of  indignation  as  caused  them  to  shrink  with 

*  The  following  anecdote  of  him,  related  by  General  Cass,  in  his 
work  styled  "France,  its  King,  Court  and  Government,"  is  perfectly 
characteristic.  He  says : — 

"I  recollect  a  similar  incident,  which  took  place  in  a  small  vil 
lage  upon  the  banks  of  the  Ohio.  The  Court  was  in  session,  and  the 

presiding  officer  was  a  Colonel  P ,  a  man  of  great  resolution, 

and  of  herculean  frame.  A  person  entered  the  Court  cabin,  and,  by 
his  noise,  put  a  stop  to  the  proceedings.  He  was  ordered  out,  and 
the  sheriff  attempted  to  remove  him  ;  but  he  put  himself  upon  his 
reserved  rights,  and  made  such  a  vigorous  resistance  that  the  officer 

retired  from  the  contest.  Colonel  P ,  thereupon,  descended 

from  the  bench,  coolly  took  off  his  coat,  gave  the  brawler  a  severe 
beating,  and,  after  putting  him  out  of  the  house,  resumed  his  gar 
ment  and  his  seat,  and  continued  his  judicial  functions." 


MRS.  BLENNERHASSETT  LEAVES  THE  ISLAND.     115 

fear  and  trepidation.  "Shame!  men,"  he  ex 
claimed,  "  shame  on  such  conduct !  You  have 
disgraced-  your  district,  and  the  cause  in  which 
you  are  concerned !" 

To  the  party  of  strangers,  however,  he  was 
courteous  and  attentive.  They  soon  ascertained 
that  they  had  no  cause  to  apprehend  the  frustra 
tion  of  their  plans,  by  Colonel  Phelps;  indeed, 
so  far  from  that,  he  willingly  acceded  to  their 
wishes,  in  permitting  the  departure  of  Mrs.  Blen- 
nerhassett,  and  proffered  his  services,  in  accele 
rating  her  arrangements  to  go  to  her  husband, 
who,  he  said,  he  knew  could  never  return  to  her. 
To  Mrs.  Blennerhassett,  he  expressed  his  deep 
sense  of  mortification,  for  the  riotous  acts  of  his 
misguided  men,  and  assured  her,  of  what  she 
was  already  aware,  had  he  been  present  the 
shameful  act  would  not  have  occurred. 

"Early  next  morning,  Mrs.  Blennerhassett 
commenced  her  preparations  for  a  final  farewell 
of  the  island  Eden,  where,  for  eight  years,  she 
had  been  the  presiding  genius.  Her  energy  and 
zeal  were  such,  that,  in  a  few  hours,  she  took 
possession  of  the  humble  chamber  prepared  for 
her  in  the  boat,  and,  by  the  assistance  of  Colonel 
Phelps,  who  rivalled  the  young  men  in  courtesy, 
the  necessary  stores  and  furniture  were  em 
barked.  On  the  seventeenth  day  of  December, 


116  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

the  boat  swung  from  the  shore,  lashed  to  another 
of  the  same  class,  belonging  to  A.  W.  Putnam, 
ofBelpre." 

In  the  latter  part  of  December,  they  passed 
the  mouth  of  the  Cumberland,  where,  it  was  ex 
pected  she  would  join  her  husband ;  but,  as  we 
before  have  shown,  he  had  passed  out  of  the 
Ohio,  into  the  waters  of  the  rapid  Mississippi, 
and  moored  at  the  entrance  of  Bayou  Pierre. 
Early  in  January,  she  was  restored,  with  her 
children,  to  Blennerhassett,  who  received  them 
with  that  deep-felt  affection  which  a  parent  and 
husband  can  only  appreciate. 

The  situation  of  Burr  and  Blennerhassett  had 
now  become  one  of  painful  anxiety.  It  was 
evident,  from  surrounding  circumstances,  that 
the  strong  hands  of  the  general  and  State  go 
vernments  had  became  too  powerful  for  the 
small  forces  under  their  command.  Burr  saw 
that  he  was  the  "  victim  of  bad  faith."  Those 
who  had  favoured  the  enterprise,  at  first,  and 
gave  him  to  understand  that  their  aid  could 
be  relied  on,  abandoned  their  designs,  upon  the 
issuing  of  the  President's  proclamation.  The 
authorities  of  the  States  and  Territories  border 
ing  on  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers  had 
ordered  out  the  militia,  for  the  apprehension  of 
the  parties ;  and,  from  Pittsburgh  to  the  Gulf, 


ARMS  CAST  OVERBOARD.  117 

the  most  rigid  measures  had  been  adopted,  to 
give  an  effectual  check  to  the  further  progress 
of  the  expedition. 

As  for  Blennerhassett,  his  situation  was  cheer 
less  in  the  extreme.  For  Burr,  had  he  aban 
doned  his  home  with  all  its  endearments — his 
books — his  studies,  his  property,  and,  withal,  was 
deeply  involved,  for  debts  contracted  for  the  en 
terprise.  As  if  the  furies  were  not  yet  satiated, 
in  their  revenge,  he  was  hunted  and  pursued,  as 
a  malefactor,  and  momentarily  expected  the 
chilling  touch  of  the  officer  of  the  law,  to  sum 
mon  him  to  justice. 

On  a  dark  and  dreary  night,  in  the  month  of 
January,  as  the  flotilla  pushed  slowly  from  the 
landing  at  Petit  Gulf,  might  have  been  observed 
the  master-spirit  of  the  expedition,  seated  on  a 
rough  stool,  in  the  inclement  cabin  of  a  flat-boat, 
lighted  only  by  the  cheerless  rays  of  a  solitary 
candle,  and  the  decaying  embers  of  a  rudely-con 
structed  fire-place.  With  his  face  buried  in  his 
hands,  while  his  elbows  rested  on  a  table  of  un- 
planed  boards,  he  who  had  heretofore  braved  the 
disappointments  which  had  attended  his  under 
taking,  with  a  fortitude  that  astonished,  while  it 
gave  confidence  to  his  followers,  now  sat  gloomy 
and  dejected.  Upon  what  he  mused  is  beyond 
the  ken  of  human  prescience  ;  but,  starting  sud- 


118  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

denly  from  his  revery,  he  caught  up  an  axe,  and 
directed  his  attendant  to  make  an  opening  in 
the  side  of  the  boat.  Through  this,  in  the 
silence  of  the  night,  when  he  supposed  there 
was  none  to  witness,  the  chests  of  arms  for  the 
expedition  were  silently  sunk  beneath  the  waters 
of  the  Mississippi. 


PROCLAMATION  OP  GOV.  MEAD.  119 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Proclamation  of  Cowles  Mead  acting  as  Governor  of  the  Mississippi 
Territory — Burr's  reply — The  boats  are  visited  by  George  Poin- 
dexter,  Attorney-General  for  the  Territory — Object  of  the  visit — • 
A  letter  from  the  acting  Governor — Burr's  avowals — Poindexter 
requests  his  peaceable  surrender — Burr  declares  his  willingness 
— An  interview  with  the  acting  Governor  the  next  day  is  agreed 
upon — Terms  of  the  agreement — Burr  accordingly  surrenders 
himself — Terms  of  his  final  surrender — He  is  conveyed  to  the 
town  of  Washington — Examination  before  Judge  Rodney — Poin 
dexter  called  on  for  his  opinion — It  is  given — Judge  Rodney  dis 
sents — A  grand  jury  is  required  to  be  summoned  to  an  adjourned 
session  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  Mississippi  Territory — Grand 
jury  assembled — Motion  to  discharge — Overruled — Presentments 
by  the  grand  jury — Acquitting  Burr — Present  the  calling  out  of 
the  militia  of  the  Territory  as  a  grievance — Also  late  military 
arrests — Astonishment  of  the  Attorney-General — Leaves  the  court 
room — Judge  Rodney  displeased — Burr  asks  to  be  discharged 
from  his  recognisance — Is  refused — Disguises  himself  and  escapes 
— Reward  offered — Suspicious  circumstance — Burr's  men  are 
placed  under  guard — Arrests  at  Fort  Adams  and  New  Orleans — 
Conduct  of  Wilkinson — Treatment  of  General  Adair — Attempt  to 
suspend  the  writ  of  "  Habeas  Corpus" — Wilkinson's  contempt  of 
the  writs  of  Habeas  Corpus — Judge  Workman's  recommendation 
to  the  Governor — Workman  becomes  dissatisfied  with  the  Governor 
— Resigns  his  office — Return  of  Burling  from  Mexico — Object  of 
his  visit — Reception  of  Burling  by  the  Viceroy  of  Mexico — Leaves 
Mexico  in  haste — Lieutenant  Swan  returns  from  Jamaica  with 
letter  from  Admiral  Drake — Conveyance  of  prisoners  to  Wash 
ington  and  Baltimore — Their  discharge. 

COWLES   MEAD,  Secretary  of  the   Mississippi 
Territory,   performing  the   duties   of  governor, 


120  LIFE  OP  BLENNERHASSETT. 

had,  on  the  third  day  of  December,  1806,  issued 
his  proclamation  for  the  arrest  of  "  the  Burr  con 
spirators  ;"  and,  at  the  same  time,  calling  on  the 
officers  of  the  government  to  take  the  oath  of 
fidelity  to  the  United  States.  To  this  proclama 
tion,  Burr,  on  the  twelfth  of  January,  1807, 
replied  in  a  letter  of  some  length,  in  which  he 
disavowed  any  designs  hostile  to  the  tranquillity 
of  the  country,  stating  that  his  only  object  was  a 
peaceable  settlement  of  the  lands  of  his  new 
purchase.  "If  the  alarm  which  has  been  ex 
cited,"  he  remarks,  "  should  not  be  appeased  by 
this  declaration,  I  invite  my  fellow-citizens  to 
visit  me  at  this  place,  (Bayou  Pierre,)  and  to 
receive  from  me,  in  person,  such  further  explana 
tions  as  may  be  necessary  to  their  satisfaction, 
presuming  that  when  my  views  are  understood, 
they  will  receive  the  countenance  of  all  good 
men."  This  letter,  he  requested,  might  be  read 
to  the  militia,  who,  he  understood,  were  assem 
bled  for  his  arrest. 

Having  moved  his  boats  to  the  western  margin 
of  the  Mississippi  river,  a  short  distance  below 
Bayou  Pierre,  he  was  visited  by  George  Poin- 
dexter,  Esq.,  the  Attorney-general  of  the  Ter 
ritory,  who  had  been  appointed  by  Mead  as  an 
honorary  aid-de-camp  for  the  arrest  of  the  parties. 
The  object  of  this  visit  was  to  gain  correct 


BURR'S  AVOWALS.  121 

information  as  to  the  situation  of  Burr  ;  to 
ascertain  his  views,  so  far  as  they  might  be  com 
municated;  and  to  procure  his  peaceful  surrender 
to  the  civil  authorities. 

Major  Shields,  who  accompanied  Poindexter, 
delivered  to  Burr  a  letter  from  the  acting  go 
vernor.  In  it  was  a  sentence  relating  to  the 
restoration  of  tranquillity  in  the  territory,  which 
sentence  Burr  repeated  with  a  sneer;  adding 
that  he  had  no  intention  to  injure  the  citizens 
of  the  United  States.  "As  to  any  projects  or 
plans,"  he  continued,  "which  may  have  been 
formed  between  General  Wilkinson  and  myself, 
heretofore,  they  are  now  completely  frustrated 
by  the  perfidious  conduct  of  Wilkinson ;  and  the 
world  must  pronounce  him  a  perfidious  villain. 
If  I  am  sacrificed,  my  portfolio  will  prove  him 
to  be  such."  He  stated  further,  that,  so  far  from 
having  any  designs  hostile  to  the  citizens  of  the 
United  States,  he  intended  to  have  met  Mr. 
Mead,  at  Port  Gibson,  on  the  day  of  the  general 
muster,  which  happened  at  that  place  about  the 
time  of  his  arrival  at  Bayou  Pierre;  but  was 
deterred  from  so  doing,  by  the  belief  that  he 
would  be  assassinated,  if  seen  passing  through 
the  territory. 

Mr.  Poindexter  then  requested  him  to  sur 
render  himself,  peaceably,  to  the  civil  authorities; 

11 


122  LIFE  OP  BLENNERHASSETT. 

stating  that,  unless  he  did,  the  governor  would 
certainly  arrest  him  by  force.  Burr  declared  his 
willingness,  at  all  times,  to  submit,  and  proposed 
that  an  interview  should  take  place,  between 
himself  and  the  acting  governor,  at  some  conve 
nient  place,  on  the  next  day ;  claiming  protection 
from  personal  violence  in  the  mean  time. 

Stipulations  were  entered  into,  by  which  it 
was  agreed  that  Burr  should  be  returned  to  his 
boats,  if  Mead  should  not  accept  of  his  surrender; 
that  his  flotilla  should  remain  in  the  position  it 
then  occupied,  until  after  the  proposed  interview 
should  have  taken  place ;  and  that,  in  the  mean 
while,  his  men  should  commit  no  breach  of  the 
peace,  or  violate  any  law  of  the  United  States  or 
Mississippi  territory.  The  place  designated  for 
the  conference  was  the  house  of  Thomas  Calvert, 
a  respectable  citizen  of  the  Territory  who  resided 
near  the  mouth  of  Coles  Creek,  where  the  de 
tachment  of  militia  which  descended  the  river 
was  stationed. 

Burr,  accordingly,  on  the  seventeenth  day  of 
January,  dropped  down  the  river  as  far  as  Tho 
mas  Calvert's,  accompanied  by  Col.  Fitzpatrick, 
who  directed  him  to  be  taken  in  charge  by  Cap 
tain  Davidson's  company  of  dragoons.  Here  he 
was  joined,  according  to  appointment,  by  Mead ; 
when  further  stipulations  were  required  as  to  the 


SURRENDER  OF  BURR.  123 

terms  of  his  surrender.  These  were,  first,  that 
the  agreement  entered  into,  for  the  purpose  of 
procuring  that  interview,  should  be  declared 
void.  Secondly,  that  Burr  should  give  himself 
up,  unconditionally,  to  the  civil  authority.  And, 
thirdly,  that  his  boats  should  be  searched,  and 
all  military  stores  and  apparatus  found  on  board, 
be  disposed  of,  as  the  Executive  should  think  fit. 

To  these  terms,  the  acting  governor  required 
Burr's  unequivocal  reply,  in  fifteen  minutes  ;  and, 
if  not  agreed  to,  he  was  to  be  instantly  returned 
to  his  boats,  and  the  militia  ordered  to  seize  the 
whole  party,  by  force. 

As  there  was  no  chance  of  escape,  the  condi 
tions  were  accepted  of  and  carried  into  effect. 
Burr  declared  his  unwillingness  to  fall  into  the 
hands  of  Wilkinson,  and  requested,  if  any  at 
tempt  should  be  made  to  arrest  him  by  a  military 
force  from  New  Orleans,  that  it  might  be  opposed. 
He  was  conducted  to  the  town  of  Washington, 
where  he  was  delivered  over  to  the  custody  of 
the  law,  and  the  examination  of  the  witnesses 
immediately  commenced  before  Judge  Kodney. 

Mr.  Poindexter  was  called  on,  in  his  official 
capacity,  as  attorney-general,  to  give  his  written 
opinion  as  to  the  course  which  ought  to  be  pur 
sued.  He,  accordingly,  furnished  an  able  argu 
ment  against  any  attempt  to  try  the  accused  in 


124  LIFE  OP  BLENNERHASSETT. 

the  courts  of  the  territory.  He  stated  that  they 
had  no  evidence  to  convict  him  of  any  offence 
committed  in  Mississippi;  that  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  territory,  to  which  a  jury  was  about 
to  be  summoned,  had  no  original  jurisdiction  of 
any  prosecution,  and  could  only  take  cognisance 
of  law  reserved  at  the  trial  in  the  Circuit  Court. 
It  was  his  opinion,  therefore,  that  Burr  should 
be  sent  to  the  city  of  Washington,  where  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  would  be  in 
session;  and  the  judges,  attending  from  every 
part  of  the  Union,  could  direct  him  to  be  tried  in 
the  District,  where,  from  the  evidence,  it  might 
appear  that  an  overt  act  of  treason  had  been 
committed. 

But  Judge  Rodney  thought  differently ;  and  a 
venire  facias  was  issued,  requiring  the  attendance 
of  seventy-six  jurors,  at  an  adjourned  session 
of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  Mississippi  Terri 
tory,  to  be  held  in  February.  From  the  number 
attending,  at  the  appointed  time,  a  grand  jury  of 
twenty-three  persons  was  selected,  who  received 
a  charge  from  the  judge  and  were  adjourned 
until  the  next  day. 

The  following  morning,  a  motion  was  made, 
by  the  attorney-general,  to  discharge  the  grand 
jury: — -first,  because  the  court  did  not  possess 
original  jurisdiction  in  any  case.  Secondly,  be- 


PRESENTMENT  OF  THE  GRAND  JURY.  125 

cause  the  depositions,  submitted  to  his  inspec 
tion,  did  not  furnish  sufficient  evidence,  to  con 
vict  Burr  of  the  offences  with  which  he  was 
charged,  so  as  to  bring  them  within  the  Mis 
sissippi  territory;  and,  thirdly,  that  a  warrant 
might  issue,  transmitting  the  accused  to  a  court 
having  competent  jurisdiction,  to  try  and  punish 
him,  if  guilty  of  the  crime  alleged  against  him. 
The  court  being  divided  on  this  motion,  it  was, 
in  consequence,  overruled,  and  the  grand  jury 
retired.  The  attorney-general,  thereupon,  deter 
mined  to  prefef  no  indictment,  and  left  the  court 
room. 

In  the  afternoon  the  jury  returned  with  the 
following  presentments : — 

"  The  grand  jury  of  the  Mississippi  Territory, 
on  a  due  investigation  of  the  evidence  brought 
before  them,  are  of  opinion  that  Aaron  Burr  has 
not  been  guilty  of  any  crime  or  misdemeanor 
against  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  or  of  this 
Territory :  or  given  any  just  cause  of  alarm  or 
inquietude  to  the  good  people  of  the  same. 

"The  grand  jurors  present,  as  a  grievance, 
the  late  military  expedition,  unnecessarily,  as 
they  conceive,  fitted  out  against  the  person  and 
property  of  the  said  Aaron  Burr,  when  no 
resistance  had  been  made  to  the  civil  authorities. 

"  The  grand  jurors  also  present,  as  a  griev- 
11* 


126  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

ance,  destructive  of  personal  liberty,  the  late 
military  arrests,*  made  without  warrant,  and, 
as  they  conceive,  without  other  lawful  authority ; 
and  they  do  sincerely  regret  that  so  much  cause 
has  been  given  to  the  enemies  of  our  glorious 
Constitution,  to  rejoice  at  such  measures  being 
adopted,  in  a  neighbouring  territory,  as,  if  sanc 
tioned  by  the  Executive  of  our  country,  must 
sap  the  vitals  of  our  political  existence,  and 
crumble  this  glorious  fabric  in  the  dust." 

The  attorney-general  declared  his  astonish 
ment  at  such  unwarrantable  presentments  by 
the  grand  jury,  and,  informing  the  Court  that  he 
should  take  no  notice  of  them,  retired.  Judge 
Kodney  strongly  reprobated  such  conduct  on  the 
part  of  the  jury,  and,  after  rating  them  in  no 
very  mild  terms,  dismissed  them  without  day. 

In  the  evening  of  the  day  on  which  the  court 
sat,  Burr  visited  the  house  of  Colonel  Osborne. 
He  had  asked  to  be  discharged  from  his  recogni 
sance  ;  as  he  had  fully  complied  with  its  terms ; 
but,  learning  that  it  was  the  intention  of  Gov. 
Williams  to  seize  on  his  person  the  moment 
he  was  discharged  by  judicial  authority,  he  re 
quested  John  Dana,  one  of  his  force  from  Belpre', 
with  two  others,  to  convey  him,  in  a  boat,  to  a 

*  The  arrests  of  Bollman,  Swartwout,  Ogden  and  others,  at  New 
Orleans,  on  suspicion  of  being  engaged  in  the  expedition. 


BURR  ATTEMPTS  TO  ESCAPE.  127 

point  about  twenty  miles  from  Bayou  Pierre, 
whence  he  could  escape  across  the  country. 

Procuring  a  boatman's  dress,  in  which  to  dis 
guise  himself,  he  proceeded  on  his  tour.  Upon 
hearing  of  his  escape,  Williams  issued  a  procla 
mation,  offering  two  thousand  dollars  for  his 
apprehension  and  safe  delivery  to  the  proper 
authorities.  A  few  days  afterwards,  a  negro  boy 
was  discovered  near  the  mouth  of  Cole's  Creek, 
opposite  which  the  boats  were  stationed,  riding 
on  a  horse  which  belonged  to  Burr,  and  having 
on  his  surtout  coat.  These  circumstances  created 
a  suspicion;  the  boy  was  searched,  and,  sewed 
up  in  the  cape  of  his  coat,  was  found  a  note  to 
the  following  effect : — 

"  If  you  are  yet  together,  keep  so,  and  I  will 
join  you  to-morrow  night.  In  the  meanwhile, 
put  all  your  arms  in  perfect  order.  Ask  no 
questions  of  the  bearer,  but  tell  him  all  you  may 
think  I  wish  to  know.  He  does  not  know  that 
this  is  from  me,  nor  where  I  am." 

To  C.  T.  and  D.  P.* 

In  consequence  of  this  discovery,  Burr's  men 
were  arrested  and  placed  under  guard,  where 
they  were  detained  until  the  alarm  was  over. 

*  Comfort  Tyler  and  Davis  Floyd. 


128  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

Many,  if  not  all  of  them  were  permitted,  occa 
sionally,  to  walk  about,  free  of  restraint,  on  their 
parole  of  honour. 

In  the  meanwhile,  several  arrests  of  the  sup 
posed  accomplices  of  Burr  had  been  made  at 
Fort  Adams  and  New  Orleans.  Among  the 
number  were  Bollman,  Ogden,  Swartwout,  Adair, 
Dayton,  Smith  and  Alexander,  against  whom 
the  most  rigid  and  unjustifiable  authority  had 
been  exercised,  by  General  Wilkinson ;  in  many 
cases  upon  bare  suspicion,  and  without  resistance, 
at  any  time,  to  civil  authority.  General  Adair, 
who  had  arrived  at  New  Orleans  on  the  tenth 
of  January,  was  besieged  by  one  hundred  and 
twenty  men,  under  command  of  Lieutenant-colo 
nel  Kingsbury,  accompanied  by  one  of  Wilkin 
son's  aids.  They  seized  upon  him  while  at 
dinner,  in  a  public  house,  dragged  him  from  the 
table,  and  conducted  him  to  head-quarters,  where 
he  was  placed  in  confinement,  and  secreted,  until 
an  opportunity  offered  to  convey  him  away.*  It 

*  An  Irish  gentleman  of  wit  and  humour,  happened  to  be  confined 
in  prison  for  debt,  when  it  was  announced  to  him,  by  one  of  the 
officials,  that  Gen.  Adair  was  in  the  adjoining  room.  He  immedi 
ately  struck  up,  in  a  full,  musical  voice,  to  the  tune  of  Robin  Adair : 

"Ye  are  welcome  to  Orleans, 

Johnny  Adair, — 
Ye  are  welcome  to  Orleans, 

Johnny  Adair ! 


ARBITRARY  CONDUCT  OF  WILKINSON.  129 

was  even  attempted,  in  the  legislature  of  Loui 
siana,  at  the  suggestion  of  the  governor,  to  sus 
pend  the  writ  of  Jiabeas  corpus — that  inestimable 
guarantee  to  the  liberties  of  every  American 
citizen,  more  effectually  to  aid  the  harsher  ap 
plication  of  military  law  and  military  dictation. 

Towards  the  writs  of  habeas  corpus,  issued  by 
the  courts,  to  bring  the  accused  parties  before 
them,  Wilkinson  observed  the  most  profound 
contempt.  So  ineffectual  was  the  process  of  the 
courts,  in  bringing  either  the  prisoners  or  Wil 
kinson  before  them,  that  Judge  Workman  recom 
mended  to  the  governor,  that  Wilkinson  should 
be  opposed  by  force  of  arms.  He  stated  that  the 
violent  measures  of  that  officer  had  produced 
great  discontent,  alarm  and  agitation,  in  the 
public  mind ;  and  unless  such  proceedings  were 
effectually  opposed,  all  confidence  in  government 
would  be  at  an  end.  He  urged  the  governor  to 
revoke  the  order,  by  which  he  had  placed  the 
Orleans  volunteers  under  Wilkinson's  command, 
and  to  call  out  and  arm  the  rest  of  the  militia  as 
soon  as  possible.  He  stated  it  as  his  opinion, 
that  an  army  would  not  oppose  the  civil  power, 


How  does  little  Aaron  do  ? — 
And  Irish  Blanny,  too  ? — 
Why  did'nt  they  come  with  you, 
Johnny  Adair?'" 


130  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

when  constitutionally  brought  forth,  or  that  if 
they  did,  the  governor  might  soon  have  men 
enough  to  render  the  opposition  ineffectual.* 

No  satisfactory  answer  having  been  made  to 
Workman,  by  the  governor,  he  again  addressed 
him  on  the  subject.  It  was  notorious,  he  re 
marked,  that  the  commander-in-chief  of  the 
military  forces  had,  by  his  own  authority,  ar 
rested  several  citizens  for  civil  offences,  and 
avowed  on  record,  that  he  had  adopted  means  to 
send  them  out  of  the  Territory,  openly  declaring 
his  determination  to  usurp  the  functions  of  the 
judiciary,  by  making  himself  the  only  judge  of 
the  guilt  of  the  persons  he  suspected,  and  assert 
ing,  in  the  same  manner,  and  without  contradic 
tion,  that  his  measures  were  taken  after  several 
consultations  with  the  governor. 

Although  a  common  case  would  not  require 
the  step  he  was  taking,  yet,  he  deemed  it  his 
duty,  before  any  decisive  measure  was  pursued 
against  him,  who  had  all  the  regular  force,  and, 
in  pursuance  of  the  governor's  public  orders,  a 
great  part  of  the  Territory  at  his  disposal,  to  ask 
whether  the  Executive  had  the  ability  to  enforce 
the  decrees  of  the  court  of  the  county ;  and  if  he 
had,  whether  he  would  deem  it  expedient  to  do 

*  Martin's  History  of  Louisiana. 


JUDGE  WORKMAN'S  LETTER.  131 

it  in  the  present  instance ;  or  whether  the  allega 
tions,  by  which  Wilkinson  supported  the  violent 
measures,  were  well  founded. 

"Not  only  the  conduct  and  power  of  Wilkin 
son,"  he  continued,  "  but  various  other  circum 
stances  peculiar  to  'our  present  situation  ;  the 
alarm  excited  in  the  public  mind;  the  descrip 
tion  and  character  of  a  large  part  of  the  popula 
tion  of  the  country,  might  render  it  dangerous, 
in  the  highest  degree,  to  adopt  the  measure, 
usual  in  ordinary  cases,  of  calling  to  the  aid  of 
the  sheriff  the  posse  comitatus,  unless  it  was  done 
with  the  assurance  of  being  supported  by  the 
governor  in  an  efficient  manner." 

The  letter  concluded,  by  requesting  a  precise 
and  speedy  answer  to  the  preceding  inquiries ; 
and  an  assurance  that  if  certain  of  the  governor's 
support,  the  judge  would  forthwith  punish,  as 
the  law  directed,  the  contempt  offered  to  the 
court.  On  the  other  hand,  should  the  governor 
think  it  impracticable  to  afford  the  required  aid, 
the  court  and  its  officers  would  no  longer 
remain  exposed  to  the  contempt  or  insults  of 
a  man  whom  they  were  unable  to  punish  or 
resist. 

The  same  silence  and  indifference  having  been 
observed  by  the  governor  towards  the  last,  as 
towards  his  former  communication,  Workman 


132  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

resigned  his  office  as  he  had  before  indi 
cated.* 

Burling,  who  had  been  sent  to  Mexico,  re 
turned,  without  having  accomplished  the  object 
of  his  mission.  It  appears  that,  instead  of  his 
being  sent  "to  penetrate  the  veil  which  con 
cealed  the  topographical  route  to  the  city  of 
Mexico,  and  the  military  defences  which  inter 
vened,"  as  alleged  by  Wilkinson,  he  was,  on  the 
contrary,  commissioned  to  display  to  the  viceroy 
the  great  pecuniary  sacrifices  made  by  that  gene 
ral,  to  frustrate  the  plan  of  invasion  meditated 
by  the  Ex- Vice-President  against  the  kingdom 
of  Mexico,  and  to  solicit,  in  consideration  of  such 
important  services,  a  pretty  round  sum  of  at 
least  two  hundred  thousand  dollars.^ 

Don  Joseph  de  Yturrigaray  received  this  com 
munication  with  due  contempt  and  indignation, 
bidding  his  interpreter  to  tell  Mr.  Burling  that 
General  Wilkinson,  in  counteracting  any  trea 
sonable  plan  of  Mr.  Burr,  did  no  more  than  com 
ply  with  his  duty ;  that  he  (the  viceroy)  would 
take  good  care  to  defend  the  kingdom  of  Mexico 
against  any  attack  or  invasion ;  and  that  he  did 


*  Martin's  History  of  Louisiana. 

f  Correspondence  of  Maria  Ines  Jauregui  de  Yturrigaray,  Vice- 
queen.    Davis's  Life  of  Burr,  vol.  ii.  p.  401. 


WILKINSON'S  LETTER  TO  ADMIRAL  DRAKE.         133 

not  think  himself  authorized  to  give  one  farthing 
to  Gen.  Wilkinson,  in  compensation  for  his  pre 
tended  services.  He,  thereupon,  ordered  Burling 
to  leave  the  city  of  Mexico,  and  had  him  safely 
escorted  to  the  port  of  Yera  Cruz,  where  he  em 
barked  for  New  Orleans. 

On  the  seventh  of  December,  previous,  Wil 
kinson  had  despatched  Lieutenant  Swann,  of  the 
army,  to  Jamaica,  with  a  letter  to  the  officer 
commanding  the  naval  force  on  that  station,  in 
forming  him  of  Burr's  plans,  and  that  a  report 
was  afloat  that  the  aid  of  a  British  naval  arma 
ment  had  been  either  promised  or  applied  for. 
He  therefore  warned  him,  and  all  other  British 
military  and  naval  officers,  that  their  inter 
ference,  or  any  co-operation  on  their  part,  would 
be  considered  as  highly  injurious  to  the  United 
States,  and  affecting  the  then  present  amicable 
relations  between  the  two  nations.  The  com 
munication  concluded  with  a  hope,  that  the 
British  government  would  refrain  from  any  in 
terference,  and  prevent  individuals  from  affording 
aid  to  the  enterprise ;  assuring  him  that  the 
writer  would,  with  all  the  force  under  his  com 
mand,  resist  any  effort  of  a  foreign  power  to 
favour  Burr's  projects. 

To  this  Admiral  Drake  replied,  that,  from  the 

style  and  manner  in  which  the  communication 

12 


134  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

was  written,  lie  was  at  a  loss  how  to  answer  it ; 
but  begged  him,  (Wilkinson,)  to  be  assured,  that 
British  ships  of  war  would  never  be  employed  in 
any  improper  service,  and  that  he  should  ever 
be  ready  most  cheerfully  to  obey  the  orders  of 
his  sovereign.  Sir  Eyre  Coote  trusted,  and  sin 
cerely  believed,  the  representations  made  to 
Wilkinson  were  totally  groundless,  as  his  letter 
contained  the  only  intelligence  received  on  the 
subject.* 

Bollman  and  Swartwout  were  conducted  to 
the  city  of  Washington  for  trial.  After  having 
been  imprisoned,  for  some  time,  on  the  charge 
of  treason,  as  joint-conspirators  with  Burr,  they 
were  discharged  from  confinement,  by  order  of 
the  Supreme  Court,  as  the  evidence  was  not  suf 
ficient  to  retain  them  longer  in  custody. 

Ogden  and  Alexander  were  transported  to 
Baltimore,  as  accomplices  in  the  same  crime. 
The  former  of  these  was  taken  before  a  magis 
trate,  in  the  city,  and  set  at  liberty  for  want  of 
sufficient  proof.  The  latter  was  shortly  after 
released,  in  Washington,  whither  he  had  been 
recently  conducted,  because  of  the  improper 
averment  of  the  offence. 

*  Martin's  History  of  Louisiana. 


BURR  IN  ALABAMA.  135 


CHAPTER  X. 

Burr's  arrival  in  the  village  of  Wakefield,  Alabama — Inquires  for 
Colonel  Hinson's — His  conduct  excites  suspicion — He  is  pursued 
by  Nicholas  Perkins  and  Brightwell,  the  Sheriff— Is  found  at 
Hinson's — His  agreeableness — Suspicions  of  the  Sheriff— Mrs.  Hin 
son's  inquisitiveness — His  departure  from  Hinson's — Delinquency 
of  Brightwell — Perkins  sets  out  for  Fort  Stoddard  to  procure  as 
sistance  of  Lieutenant  Edmund  P.  Gaines — They  start  in  pursuit 
— Burr  is  arrested — His  imprisonment  at  the  Fort — Kindness  to 
George  S.  Gaines — Amusements  at  the  Fort — Burr's  travelling 
companion,  Major  Ashley,  arrested,  and  escapes — Difficulties  in 
procuring  a  guard  to  convey  Burr  to  Richmond — Burr  leaves  the 
Fort  under  guard — Sympathy  of  the  ladies — Guard — Perkins 
fears  the  influence  of  Burr — Particulars  of  the  journey — Burr  at 
tempts  to  escape  at  Chester — Is  unsuccessful — Arrives  at  Rich 
mond,  Virginia. 

LATE  at  night,  about  the  last  of  February, 
Burr,  with  a  companion,  arrived  at  a  small  log 
tavern,  in  what  is  now  the  village  of  Wakefield, 
in  Washington  county,  Alabama.  Without 
alighting,  he  called  at  the  door,  and  inquired  of 
the  inmates  if  Colonel  Hinson  resided  in  the 
neighbourhood.  Receiving  for  answer  that  he 
did,  they  further  informed  him  that  the  house 
was  seven  miles  distant;  the  road  to  be  tra- 


136  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

veiled,  obscure  and  difficult;  and  a  deep  and 
turbid  creek  lay  in  the  route.  Nothing  daunted, 
he  eagerly  sought  information  as  to  the  forks, 
and  directions  as  to  crossing  the  stream.  This 
having  been  communicated,  he  put  spurs  to  his 
horse,  leaving  the  observers  involved  in  astonish 
ment. 

Near  midnight,  the  glimmering  of  a  light, 
through  the  distant  trees,  directed  the  travellers 
to  the  rude  but  comfortable  quarters  of  Colonel 
Hinson.  Having  hailed  and  received  no  answer, 
they  dismounted,  and  entered  the  kitchen,  where 
the  remaining  embers  in  the  fire-place  were  soon 
kindled  into  a  comfortable  blaze.  Seating  him 
self  before  it,  Burr  left  his  companion  to  take 
charge  of  the  horses,  and  had  but  just  begun  to 
feel  comfortable,  when  he  was  interrupted  by  a 
stranger,  who,  he  concluded,  had  ridden  till  late 
to  reach  desirable  lodgings.  But  in  this  he  was 
mistaken.  The  real  cause  of  his  appearance,  at 
this  unseasonable  hour,  originated  in  Burr's  mys 
terious  departure  from  the  inn.  As  it  afterwards 
appeared,  Colonel  Nicholas  Perkins  observed,  by 
the  light  of  the  fire,  as  Burr  sat  upon  his  horse, 
that,  although  he  was  coarsely  dressed,  yet  he 
possessed  a  countenance  of  unusual  intelligence ; 
an  eye  of  sparkling  brilliancy  ;  and  a  demeanor 
wholly  unsuited  to  the  garb  he  wore.  The  tidy 


BURR  PURSUED.  137 

boot,  in  particular,  which  his  vanity  could  not 
surrender,  with  his  other  articles  of  finer  clothing, 
attracted  Perkins's  attention,  and  led  him  to  con 
clude  that  the  gentleman  before  him  was  none 
other  than  the  famous  Colonel  Burr,  described  in 
the  proclamation  of  the  governor. 

Perkins  immediately  started  after  Theodore 
Brightwell,  the  sheriff,  who  occupied  an  adjacent 
cabin ;  and,  awakening  him  from  his  slumbers, 
hurriedly  communicated  the  circumstances  of 
the  traveller's  appearance,  conversation  and  de 
parture,  and  requested  him  to  join  him  in  the 
pursuit  of  the  parties.  Brightwell  consented; 
and  the  two,  mounting  their  horses,  took  the 
road  to  Hinson's.  The  night  was  cold  and  windy, 
and  the  moanings  of  the  lofty  pines,  along  the 
solitary  road,  rendered  their  journey  gloomy  and 
unpropitious.  Still  they  pressed  on ;  for  the 
object  of  their  pursuit  was  of  no  small  import 
ance,  at  that  particular  time,  to  the  minions  of 
the  government.  As  they  arrived  in  sight  of 
the  illuminated  dwelling,  Perkins,  recollecting 
that  the  travellers  had  seen  him  at  the  tavern, 
declined  entering,  but  sent  Brightwell,  whom  he 
requested  to  return  to  him,  at  a  certain  place  in 
the  woods,  after  he  had  ascertained  whether  or 
not  the  suspicious  individual  was  Aaron  Burr. 

As  Brightwell  called  at  the  door,  his  voice 

12* 


138  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

was  recognised  by  Mrs.  Hinson,  who  was  his 
relative,  and  who  until  now  had  remained  silent 
in  another  room,  through  fear  of  the  strangers, 
in  the  absence  of  her  husband.  She  soon  pre 
pared  something  to  eat  for  her  unknown  guests. 
As  Burr  seated  himself  at  the  table,  he  thanked 
her,  in  the  most  courteous  terms,  for  her  kind 
ness,  and  apologized  for  the  trouble  he  had  im 
posed  upon  her.  His  conversation  was  sprightly 
and  agreeable,  so  much  so,  indeed,  that  Mrs. 
Hinson  soon  discovered  that  the  gentleman  and 
his  attire  did  not  correspond.  His  attention  was 
often  directed  to  Brightwell,  who  stood  before 
the  fire,  and  at  whom  he  cast  the  keenest 
glances,  evidently  endeavouring  to  read  his 
thoughts.  A  momentary  separation  having 
taken  place,  during  the  night,  between  Burr  and 
his  companion,  at  the  suggestion  of  Brightwell, 
the  latter  was  asked  by  Mrs.  Hinson  if  she  had 
the  honour  of  entertaining,  as  her  guest,  the 
celebrated  Col.  Burr.  Fearing  to  make  the  dis 
closure,  the  man  remained  silent,  and  shortly 
after  left  the  room. 

Early  in  the  morning,  Burr  privately  com 
municated  to  Mrs.  Hinson  his  real  name,  and 
regretted  the  absence  of  her  husband,  whom  he 
had  seen  at  Natchez,  and  with  whom  he  had 
promised  himself  to  remain  a  week ;  but  that,  as 


DELINQUENCY  OF  BRIGHTWELL.  139 

he  was  now  discovered,  he  should  prosecute  his 
journey. 

After  inquiring  the  route  to  Pensacola,  and 
Mrs.  Carson's  ferry  on  the  Tombigbee,  he  called 
for  writing  materials,  and  indited  several  letters. 
His  companion,  who  had  been  despatched  on  the 
back  route,  for  some  purpose,  returned  about 
nine  o'clock,  and  the  two  again  set  out  for  the 
"cut  off,"  not  very  far  distant. 

For  some  unaccountable  reason,  which  has 
never  yet  been  explained,  Brightwell  neglected 
to  return  to  Perkins,  whom  he  left  highly  ex 
cited  and  shivering  in  the  cold.  Having  remained 
at  his  post  until  his  patience  was  exhausted,  and 
supposing  that  Brightwell,  probably  on  account 
of  the  fascinations  of  Burr,  or  the  pity  which  had 
seized  him,  in  his  behalf,  had  betrayed  their 
plans,  Perkins  mounted  his  horse,  and  rode 
rapidly  to  the  house  of  Joseph  Bates,  at  Nan- 
nanhubby  Bluff,  to  avoid  the  creek,  which  inter 
vened  on  the  main  route  to  Fort  Stoddart.  Here 
he  was  furnished  with  a  canoe,  and  a  negro  to 
navigate  it ;  and,  descending  the  Tombigbee,  ar 
rived  at  the  military  station  early  in  the  morning. 
The  late  General  Edmund  P.  Gaines  was  then 
the  lieutenant  in  command.  Perkins  briefly  ac 
quainted  him  with  the  particulars  of  the  preceding 
night's  adventure,  and  of  his  suspicions;  which, 


140  HFE  OF  BLENNEKHASSETT. 

.although  of  slight  foundation,  had  nevertheless 
impressed  him  with  solid  convictions  of  truth. 
Placing  himself  at  the  head  of  a  file  of  mounted 
soldiers,  the  lieutenant  started  in  pursuit,  accom 
panied  by  Perkins.  They  shortly  encountered 
the  object  of  their  search,  with  his  travelling 
companion,  and  the  sheriff,  Brightwell.  The 
parties  having  met,  Lieutenant  Gaines  accosted 
one  of  the  strangers,  remarking,  that  he  presumed 
he  had  the  honour  of  addressing  Colonel  Burr. 

"I  am  a  traveller,"  answered  Burr,  "and  in  a 
strange  land,  and  do  not  recognise  your  right  to 
ask  such  a  question." 

"I  arrest  you,  at  the  instance  of  the  United 
States,"  replied  Gaines. 

"By  what  authority  do  you  arrest  me,  a 
stranger,  on  the  highway,  on  my  own  private 
business  ?" 

The  lieutenant  then  informed  Burr  that  he 
was  an  officer  of  the  United  States  army,  and 
held  in  his  hand  the  proclamation  of  the  Pre 
sident,  as  well  as  that  of  the  Governor  of  the 
Mississippi  Territory,  directing  his  arrest. 

Burr  asked  him  if  he  was  aware  of  the  respon 
sibility  of  arresting  a  traveller ;  to  which  Gaines 
answered,  that  he  was  perfectly  aware  of  his 
duties,  in  the  premises,  and  should  endeavour  to 
perform  them. 


BUBE  IS  ARRESTED.  141 

Burr  then  entered  into  a  brief  argument  to 
show  that  these  proclamations  should  never  have 
been  issued,  and  that  in  following  their  dictates, 
the  lieutenant  would  be  subjecting  himself  to 
much  damage  and  blame.  His  manner  was  firm; 
his  air  majestic;  and  his  language  impressive; 
but  the  resolute  young  officer  told  him  his  mind 
was  made  up; — the  prisoner  must  accompany 
him  to  his  quarters,  where  he  would  be  treated 
with  all  the  respect  due  the  Ex-Vice-President 
of  the  United  States,  so  long  as  he  made  no 
attempt  to  escape.  He  was  then  conducted 
towards  Fort  Stoddart,  where  the  parties  arrived 
in  the  evening,  and  an  apartment  being  assigned 
the  prisoner,  he  took  his  dinner  alone. 

Late  at  night,  a  groaning  was  heard,  in  an 
adjoining  room.  Burr  arose,  opened  the  door, 
and  ascertained  that  George  S.  Gaines  was  suf 
fering  from  severe  indisposition.  He  approached 
the  sufferer's  bed  and  kindly  offered  his  services, 
as  he  had  travelled  much,  and  had  some  know 
ledge  of  medicine.  They  soon  entered  into  a 
sprightly  conversation  in  regard  to  the  state  of 
the  country,  and  particularly  on  the  subject  of 
the  Choctaw  Indians,  among  whom  Gaines  lived, 
as  United  States  factor.  The  next 'day,  being 
introduced  to  the  wife  of  the  commandant,  who 
was  a  daughter  of  the  late  Judge  Toulman,  Burr 


142  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

dined  with  the  family,  and  enlivened  the  com 
pany  with  his  wit  and  elegant  discourse.  In  the 
evening,  he  played  chess  with  Mrs.  Gaines,  with 
whom  he  was  often  a  frequent  competitor  in  that 
interesting  game.  Of  nights,  he  sought  the  com 
pany  of  the  invalid,  who  became  exceedingly 
attached  to  his  society.  During  their  midnight 
conversations,  how  often  would  the  good  heart 
of  his  auditor  grieve  over  the  misfortunes  of  Burr. 
But  it  was  a  remarkable  fact,  that,  as  often  and 
long  as  they  were  together,  this  unfortunate  man 
never  once  alluded  to  his  arrest,  his  troubles,  or 
his  future  plans.  From  his  early  youth,  it  had 
been  his  custom  to  conceal  things  in  relation  to 
himself,  and  he  always  endeavoured  to  throw  an 
air  of  mystery  over  his  acts. 

After  Burr  had  been  secured,  as  a  prisoner  at 
Fort  Stoddart,  Perkins  departed  for  Wakefield, 
and  caused  the  arrest  of  his  travelling  companion, 
who  proved  to  be  Major  Ashley.  He  was  placed 
under  a  guard,  from  whom  he  escaped  and  made 
his  way  to  Tennessee,  where  he  afterwards  made 
himself  serviceable  to  his  friend,  in  collecting 
evidence  in  his  behalf  for  the  trial  at  Kichmond. 

Three  weeks  had  passed  away  since  the  arrest 
of  the  distinguished  prisoner,  and  still  the  lieu 
tenant  had  been  unable  to  convey  him  to  the 
seat  of  the  general  government  for  trial.  The 


BURR  LEAVES  THE  FORT.  143 

difficulties  were  great,  and,  for  a  time,  the  un 
dertaking  appeared  impracticable.  In  those 
days,  there  were  comparatively  no  roads,  no 
ferries,  and  few  men  could  be  found,  in  that 
sparsely  settled  country,  who  would  undertake 
a  journey  so  long  and  perilous,  over  savage 
lands.  The  inclemency  of  the  weather,  at  that 
season  of  the  year,  added  much  to  the  unplea 
santness  of  the  tour,  and,  with  many,  formed  an 
insuperable  objection,  as  they  must,  necessarily, 
for  want  of  houses  of  accommodation,  be  exposed, 
both  night  and  day,  to  the  vicissitudes  of  the 
month  of  March.  At  last,  Burr  left  the  fort, 
under  guard,  and  proceeded,  in  a  government 
boat,  up  the  Alabama  river,  into  the  Tensaw 
lake,  accompanied  by  Lieutenant  Gaines,  and 
stopped  at  the  house  of  John  Mills.  The  ladies 
of  the  house,  seeing  the  strait  to  which  Burr  was 
reduced,  wept,  through  sympathy  for  his  mis 
fortunes.  One  of  the  number,  it  is  said,  a  Mrs. 
Johnson,  named  her  son  in  honour  of  this  dis 
tinguished  individual.  He  is  still  alive,  and  is 
not  the  only  boy  bearing  the  name  of  "  Aaron 
Burr"  in  the  State  of  Mississippi.  The  ladies 
everywhere  espoused  his  cause,  in  the  south 
western  New  World.  It  is  a  prominent  and 
noble  trait,  in  female  character,  to  admire  a  man 


144  HFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

of  daring  and  generous  impulses;  and  to  pity  and 
defend  him  in  his  adversities. 

At  the  boat-yard,  in  the  present  county  of 
Baldwin,  in  the  State  of  Alabama,  the  crew  dis 
embarked,  where  William  and  John  Pierce,  (who 
introduced  the  first  cotton  gins  into  Alabama,) 
had  a  trading  establishment.  Gaines  gave  the 
command  of  the  guard  to  Perkins,  and  directed 
him  to  convey  the  prisoner  to  Washington  city. 
His  guard  consisted  of  Thomas  Malone,  of  Ala 
bama,  Henry  B.  Slade  of  North  Carolina,  two 
McCormacks  of  Kentucky,  and  two  United 
States'  soldiers.  They  were  all  men  whom  Per 
kins  selected,  and  upon  whom  he  could  rely 
under  every  circumstance.  He  took  them  aside, 
and  obtained  the  most  solemn  pledges,  that, 
upon  the  whole  route  to  Washington,  they  would 
hold  no  interviews  with  Burr,  nor  suffer  him  to 
escape  alive.  Perkins  knew  the  fascinations  of 
Burr,  and  he  feared  his  familiarity  with  his  men, 
indeed,  he  feared  the  same  influences  upon  him 
self.  His  character,  for  making  strong  impres 
sions  upon  the  human  mind,  and  attaching  men 
to  him  by  association,  was  well  known  to  the 
world. 

When  Burr  fled  from  the  authorities  in  the 
Mississippi  Territory,  he  had  disguised  himself 
in  a  boatman's  dress.  His  pantaloons  were  of 


PARTICULARS  OF  THE  JOURNEY.  145 

coarse,  copperas-dyed  cloth,  with  a  roundabout 
of  inferior  drab.  His  hat,  a  flapping,  wide-brim 
beaver,  had,  in  times  long  past,  been  white,  but 
now  gave  evidence  of  having  encountered  much 
rough  weather.  Placed  upon  his  fine  horse,  he 
bestrode  him  most  elegantly,  and  flashed  his 
large,  dark  eyes,  as  though  he  were  at  the  head 
of  his  New  York  regiment.  Each  man  carried 
provisions  for  himself,  and  some  for  the  prisoner. 
They  were  all  well  mounted,  with  no  arms  ex 
cept  pistols  in  holsters,  and  two  muskets  borne 
by  the  soldiers.  On  the  last  of  February,  they 
set  out  upon  their  long  and  perilous  journey. 
Within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  point  of 
departure,  the  dreadful  massacre  at  Fort  Mimms 
occurred,  six  years  after.  Pursuing  the  Indian 
path,  which  led  from  the  "  'Bigby  settlement,"  to 
Fort  Wilkinson,  on  the  Oconee,  they  reached  a 
point  thirty  miles  distant  the  first  day.  At 
night,  the  only  tent  in  the  company  was  pitched 
for  the  prisoner,  who  reposed  himself  upon  his 
blankets.  The  country  abounded  in  immense 
pine  forests.  Here  the  Ex-Vice-President  lay 
the  first  night,  before  the  blazing  fire,  which 
threw  a  glare  over  the  dismal  woods. 

To  what  an  extremity  had  he  now  been  re 
duced!  In  the  boundless  wilds  of  Alabama, — 
under  a  small  and  comfortless  tent;  amid  the 

13 


146  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

perils  of  Indian  barbarities,  with  the  cry  of  the 
panther,  answered  by  the  howl  of  the  hungry 
wolf  ringing  in  his  ears ;  while  the  moaning  of 
the  winds  through  the  tops  of  the  lofty  trees 
added  dreariness  to  the  solitude  of  the  night. 
With  none  with  whom  to  hold  converse;  sur 
rounded  by  a  guard  to  whom  he  dared  not 
speak ;  a  prisoner  of  the  United  States  for  whose 
liberties  he  had  fought,  and  whose  government 
he  had  helped  to  form ;  exiled  from  the  State  of 
his  adoption,  whose  statutes  and  institutions 
bore  the  impress  of  his  mind ;  deprived  by  death 
of  his  devoted  wife;  his  only  child  then  on  a 
distant  coast  of  Carolina;  his  professional  pur 
suits  abandoned,  and  his  fortune  swept  away; 
the  magnificent  scheme  of  the  conquest  of  Mexico 
uprooted,  and  the  fragments  dispersed ;  slan 
dered  and  hunted  down,  from  one  end  of  the 
Union  to  the  other;  these  were  considerations 
sufficient  to  weigh  down  an  ordinary  individual, 
and  sink  him  to  an  untimely  grave.  But  his 
was  no  common  mind;  and  the  characteristic 
fortitude  and  determination  which  had  ever 
marked  his  course,  still  sustained  him  in  the 
darkest  hour.  In  the  morning,  he  arose  cheer 
fully,  and  pursued  his  course.  Although  guarded 
with  vigilance,  his  few  wants  were  gratified,  as 
far  as  they  could  be,  and  he  was  treated  with 


PARTICULARS  OF  THE  JOURNEY.  147 

respect  and  kindness.  The  trail  being  narrow 
and  obscure,  Burr  rode  in  the  middle,  having  a 
part  of  the  guard  in  front,  while  the  rest  followed 
behind,  in  single  file.  The  route  lay  about  eight 
miles  south  of  the  present  city  of  Montgomery, 
then  an  Indian  town  called  Eaconcharte — mean 
ing  Red  Ground. 

In  the  year  1811,  General  Wade  Hampton  cut 
out  the  "Federal  Road"  along  this  trail,  which 
was  well  known  to  early  settlers  as  the  only 
highway  in  South  Alabama.  The  guard  passed 
by  the  site  of  the  present  Mount  Meigs,  and 
stopped  at  the  house  of  "Old  Milly,"  the  former 
wife  of  a  British  soldier,  who,  with  her  husband, 
in  1770,  left  the  barracks  in  Savannah  and  came 
to  the  Creek  nation.  She  had  long  been  a  resi 
dent  of  these  wild  woods,  now  lying  in  the  county 
of  Montgomery.  Her  husband,  at  this  time  a 
coloured  man,  named  Evans,  was  employed  by 
Perkins  to  pilot  the  party  across  the  dangerous 
creeks,  Lime,  Dubahatchee  and  Calabee,  all  of 
which  they  had  to  swim.  It  was  a  perilous  and 
fatiguing  march ;  and,  for  days,  the  rain  descended 
in  chilling  torrents  on  these  unsheltered  horse 
men,  collecting  in  rivulets  and  swimming  them 
at  every  point.  Hundreds  of  Indians  thronged 
the  trail,  and  the  party  could  have  been  shot 
down;  but  the  fearless  Perkins  bore  on  his  dis- 


148  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

tinguished  prisoner,  amid  angry  elements  and 
human  foes.  In  their  journey  through  Alabama, 
they  always  slept  in  the  woods,  near  swamps  of 
reeds,  upon  which  the  belled  and  hobbled  horses 
fed  during  the  night.  After  a  hastily-prepared 
breakfast,  it  was  their  custom  again  to  remount, 
and  march  on,  in  gloomy  silence,  which  was 
but  occasionally  broken  by  a  remark  about  the 
weather,  the  creeks,  or  the  horses.  Burr  was  a 
splendid  rider,  sitting  firmly  in  the  saddle,  and 
ever  on  the  alert.  He  was  always  a  hardy  tra 
veller,  and  although  wet  for  hours,  with  cold  and 
drizzling  rains,  riding  forty  miles  a  day,  and  at 
night  stretched  upon  the  bare  ground,  on  a  thin 
pallet,  yet,  in  the  whole  distance  to  Kichmond, 
he  was  never  heard  to  say  that  he  was  sick,  or 
even  fatigued.  At  the  Chattahoochie,  was  a 
crossing-place,  owned  by  an  Indian  named  Mar 
shall.  The  effects  of  the  expedition  were  carried 
over  in  canoes,  while  the  horses  swam  alongside. 
Li  this  manner,  they  passed  the  Flint  and  Oc- 
mulgee.  At  Fort  Wilkinson,  on  the  Oconee,  they 
entered  the  first  ferry-boat  they  had  seen  on  the 
whole  route.  A  few  miles  further  on,  they  were 
sheltered  by  the  first  civilized  roof — a  house  of 
entertainment,  kept  by  one  Bevin.  While  break 
fast  was  preparing,  and  the  guard  were  seated 
around  a  large  fire,  the  host,  like  all  publicans  on 


PARTICULARS  OF  THE  JOURNEY.  149 

the  highway,  inquired  from  whence  they  came. 
As  they  were  from  the  "  'Bigby  settlements,"  he 
immediately  fell  on  the  fruitful  theme  of  the 
traitor,  Aaron  Burr.  He  asked  if  he  had  been 
taken  ?  "  Was  he  not  a  very  bad  man  ?"  "  Wasn't 
everybody  afraid  of  him?"  Perkins  and  his 
party  were  very  much  annoyed,  and  embar 
rassed,  and  made  no  reply.  Burr  was  sitting 
in  a  corner,  by  the  fire,  with  his  head  down; 
and,  after  listening  to  the  inquisitiveness  of  Bevin 
until  he  could  endure  it  no  longer,  he  raised  him 
self  up,  and,  planting  his  fiery  eyes  upon  him, 
said : 

"  I  am  Aaron  Burr ;  what  is  it  you  want  with 
me?" 

Bevin,  struck  with  his  appearance, — the  keen 
ness  of  his  look,  and  the  solemnity  and  dignity 
of  his  manner,  stood  aghast,  and  trembled  like  a 
leaf.  He  uttered  not  another  word,  while  the 
guard  remained  at  his  house. 

When  Perkins  reached  the  confines  of  South 
Carolina,  he  watched  Burr  more  closely  than 
ever;  for,  in  this  State  lived  the  son-in-law  of 
Burr,  Col.  Alston,  a  gentleman  of  talents,  wealth 
and  influence ;  and  afterwards  governor  of  the 
State.  Upon  reaching  the  frontiers  of  Georgia, 
he  endeavoured  to  convey  .the  prisoner  in  by 
roads,  to  avoid  the  towns,  lest  he  should  be 

13* 


150  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

rescued.  The  plan  was  attended  with  difficulty; 
they  were  lost  often ;  the  march  impeded ;  and 
the  highway  was  again  resumed.  Before  enter 
ing  the  town  of  Chester,  in  South  Carolina,  the 
party  halted.  Two  men  were  placed  before 
Burr ;  two  on  either  side,  and  two  behind ;  and, 
in  this  manner,  they  passed  near  a  tavern  on  the 
street,  where  many  persons  were  standing ;  while 
music  and  dancing  were  heard  in  the  house. 
Burr  conceived  it  a  favourable  opportunity  for 
escape,  and,  suddenly  dismounting,  exclaimed, 

"  I  am  Aaron  Burr,  under  military  arrest,  and 
claim  protection  of  the  civil  authorities!" 

Perkins  leaped  from  his  horse,  with  several  of 
his  men,  and  ordered  him  to  remount. 

"I will  not!"  replied  Burr. 

Not  wishing  to  shoot  him,  Perkins  threw  down 
his  pistols,  and,  being  a  man  of  prodigious 
strength,  and  the  prisoner  a  small  man,  seized 
him  around  the  waist  and  placed  him  in  his 
saddle,  as  though  he  was  a  child.  Thomas 
Malone  caught  the  reins  of  the  bridle,  slipped 
them  over  the  horse's  head,  and  led  him  rapidly 
on.  The  astonished  citizens  had  seen  a  party 
enter  their  village,  with  a  prisoner;  had  heard 
him  appeal  to  them  for  protection;  had  wit 
nessed  the  feat  o£  Perkins ;  and  the  party 
vanished,  before  they  had  time  to  recover  from 


BURR  ATTEMPTS  TO  ESCAPE.  151 

their  confusion;  for,  when  Burr  dismounted,  the 
guards  cocked  their  pistols,  and  the  people  ran 
within  the  piazza  to  escape  from  danger. 

Burr  was  still,  to  some  extent,  popular  in 
South  Carolina ;  and  any  wavering  or  timidity, 
on  the  part  of  Perkins,  would  have  lost  him  his 
prisoner;  but  the  celerity  of  his  movements  gave 
no  time  for  the  people  to  reflect,  before  he  was 
far  in  the  outskirts  of  the  village.  Here,  the 
guard  halted.  Burr  was  highly  excited;  he  was 
in  tears !  The  kind-hearted  Malone  also  wept, 
at  seeing  the  uncontrollable  despondency  of  him 
who  hitherto  had  proven  almost  iron-hearted. 
It  was  the  first  time  any  one  had  ever  seen 
Aaron  Burr  unmanned.  9 

The  guard  became  very  much  alarmed,  on  the 
subject  of  Burr's  rescue,  Malone  and  Henry  ad 
vised  the  purchase  of  a  carriage.  The  former 
took  charge  of  the  guard,  while  Perkins  returned 
and  purchased  a  gig.  The  next  day,  Burr  was 
placed  in  a  vehicle,  and  driven,  without  further 
incident,  to  Fredericksburg,  Virginia.  Here  Per 
kins  received  despatches  from  the  President, 
requiring  him  to  convey  the  prisoner  to  Rich 
mond.  The  guard  took  the  stage,  and  soon 
reached  that  place.  The  ladies  of  the  city  vied 
with  each  other  in  contributing  to  the  comfort 
of  Burr.  Some  sent  him  fruit ;  some  clothes  ; 


152  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

some  wine ;  some  one  thing ;  some  another. 
Perkins  and  his  men  went  to  Washington ;  were 
paid  for  their  services,  and  returned  to  Alabama, 
by  way  of  Tennessee.* 

*  The  whole  of  the  incidents  related  in  the  foregoing  chapter  are 
taken  from  Pickett's  History  of  Alabama.  With  but  few  exceptions, 
I  have  followed  nearly  the  exact  language  of  that  author. 


BLENNERHASSETT  AT  LEXINGTON.  153 


CHAPTER  XL 

Blennerhassett  sets  out  from  Natchez  to  visit  his  island — Tarries  at 
Lexington,  Kentucky — Arrested  by  the  authorities — Mrs.  Blen 
nerhassett'  s  letter — Defended  Tby  the  Hon.  Henry  Clay — Is  unsuc 
cessful  in  procuring  his  discharge — Is  conducted  to  Richmond — 
Postponement  of  the  trials  of  Burr  and  his  accused  confederates — 
Trial  of  Burr  commenced — Court  and  bar — Verdict  of  acquittal  by 
the  jury — Burr's  arraignment  on  an  indictment  for  a  misdemeanor 
— Acquittal — Extracts  from  Blennerhassett's  journal  kept  during 
the  trial — Extracts  from  the  private  memoranda — Chief  Justice 
Marshall — Luther  Martin — William  Wirt — Aaron  Burr. 

BLENNERHASSETT  having  been  arrested  and  dis 
charged  in  the  Mississippi  territory,  imagined  no 
further  annoyance  from  the  government.  Feeling 
desirous  to  ascertain  the  situation  of  his  property 
at  the  island,  which  he  had  learned  from  his  wife 
and  others  was  much  injured  by  the  proceedings 
of  the  "Wood  county  militia,  he  left  Natchez  in 
June,  with  the  intention  of  visiting  it. 

On  the  route,  he  stopped  at  Lexington,  Ken 
tucky,  where  he  had  many  acquaintances  and 
friends,  to  rest  himself,  for  a  time,  from  the 
weariness  of  his  journey,  and  to  partake  of  the 
hospitalities  of  its  citizens.  In  the  meanwhile, 
on  the  twenty-fifth  of  June,  indictments  had  been 


154  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

preferred,  at  Richmond,  both  against  Burr  and 
himself;  information  of  which  having  been  re 
ceived  in  the  village,  he  was  arrested  by  the 
authorities,  and  confined  in  prison. 

If  any  thing  was  calculated  to  wound  a  heart 
of  the  most  refined  feeling  and  acutest  sensibility, 
it  certainly  was  this  last  act  of  the  unrelenting 
government.  In  the  presence  of  those  from  whom 
he  had  heretofore  received  the  most  courteous 
attention,  and  by  whom  he  had  been  regarded 
with  unusual  respect,  dragged  to  the  gloomy 
walls  of  a  prison,  and  treated  as  a  felon,  was 
humiliating  in  the  most  painful  degree. 

Mrs.  Blennerhassett,  hearing  of  his  mortifying 
situation,  and  feeling  the  necessity  of  sustaining 
him,  by  her  consoling  counsel,  under  the  in 
creased  weight  of  his  misfortunes,  addressed  him 
the  following  communication : — 

NATCHEZ,  August  3d,  1807.* 

MY  DEAREST  LOVE. — After  having  experienced 
the  greatest  disappointment  in  not  hearing  from 
you  for  two  mails,  I,  at  length,  heard  of  your 
arrest,  which  afflicts  me  because  it  was  an  arrest. 
I  think  that  had  you,  of  your  own  accord,  gone 
to  Richmond  and  solicited  a  trial,  it  would  have 
accorded  better  with  your  pride,  and  you  would 

*  William  Wallace.     "American  Review,"  1845. 


LETTER  OF  MRS.  BLENNERHASSETT.  155 

have  escaped  the  unhappiness  of  missing  my  let 
ters  which  I  wrote  every  week  to  Marietta.  God 
knows  what  you  may  feel  or  suffer,  on  our  ac 
count  before  this  reaches  you,  to  inform  you  of 
our  health  and  welfare  in  every  particular ;  and, 
knowing  this,  I  trust  and  feel  your  mind  will 
rise  superior  to  every  inconvenience  that  your 
present  situation  may  subject  you  to.  Let  no 
solicitude  whatever,  for  us,  damp  your  spirits. 
We  have  many  friends  here,  who  do  the  utmost 
in  their  power  to  counteract  any  disagreeable 
sensation  occasioned  by  your  absence.  I  shall 
live  in  the  hope  of  hearing  from  you,  by  the 
next  mail ;  and  entreat  you,  by  all  that  is  dear 
to  us,  not  to  let  any  disagreeable  feelings,  on  ac 
count  of  our  separation,  enervate  your  mind  at 
this  time.  Eemember,  that  all  here  will  read, 
with  great  interest,  any  thing  concerning  you; 
but  still,  do  not  trust  too  much  to  yourself:  con 
sider  your  want  of  practice  at  the  bar,  and  spare 
not  the  fee  of  a  lawyer.  Apprize  Colonel  Burr 
of  my  warmest  acknowledgments,  for  his  own 
and  Mrs.  Alston's  kind  remembrance ;  and  tell 
him  to  assure  her  she  has  inspired  me  with  a 
warmth  of  attachment  wilich  never  can  diminish. 
I  wish  him  to  urge  her  to  write  to  me. 

God  bless  you ! — prays  your 

M.  BLENNERHASSETT. 


156  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

Having  procured  the  eminent  services  of  the 
Hon.  Henry  Clay,  to  aid  his  release  from  the 
process  of  the  court,  Mr.  Blennerhassett  relied  on 
his  former  acquittal;  but,  notwithstanding  the 
superior  forensic  abilities  of  his  counsel,  the  court 
refused  his  application,  and  he  found  himself 
constrained  to  proceed  under  guard  to  Kichmond, 
to  be  tried  for  the  offence  of  treason. 

For  various  reasons,  which  it  is  not  necessary 
here  to  enumerate,  the  trials  of  Burr,  Blenner 
hassett,  Dayton,  John  Smith  of  Ohio,  Comfort 
Tyler,  Israel  Smith  of  New  York,  and  Davis 
Floyd,  were  postponed,  from  time  to  time,  until 
the  third  of  August.  From  the  fifth  until  the 
seventeenth  of  the  month,  the  court  was  engaged 
in  obtaining  a  jury  for  the  trial  of  Burr,  and  dis 
cussing  points  of  law. 

Never  before,  in  the  history  of  the  country, 
was  witnessed  so  grand  a  display  of  legal  acumen 
and  forensic  talent.  Upon  the  bench  sat  the 
venerated  Marshall — spotless  in  purity ;  and,  for 
soundness  of  judgment,  without  an  equal.  Calm, 
dignified  and  attentive,  he  analyzed  the  argu 
ments  of  counsel,  and  noted  their  relevancy  with 
the  nicety  of  a  critic.  At  the  bar,  was  Wirt, 
whose  fervid  and  soul-thrilling  eloquence,  even 
on  this  very  trial,  placed  him  at  once  among  the 
first  of  American  orators.  With  a  brilliancy  of 


TRIAL  OF  BURR.  157 

imagination  which  astonished  his  auditors,  he 
swayed  the  minds  of  the  jury  with  wonderful 
effect.  There,  too,  was  Martin,  who  had  been 
previously  distinguished,  in  the  trial  of  Judge 
Chase,  before  the  United  States  Senate.  Every 
word  that  he  uttered,  like  a  two-edged  sword, 
pierced  the  arguments  of  his  opponents  at  every 
point.  There  was  Hay;  always  ready  to  take 
advantage  of  suspicious  circumstances,  and  wield 
them,  with  tenfold  force,  against  the  prisoner. 
There  was  Randolph ;  slow,  calculating  and  care 
ful  ;  building  up  the  vulnerable  points  of  his  case 
against  the  attacks  of  his  adversaries.  There 
was  Botts ;  facetious  and  playful ;  sometimes 
descending  to  the  ludicrous,  but  often  rising, 
with  convincing  argument,  to  the  grand.  There 
was  Wickham  ;  dignified  and  commanding, 
taking  up  his  subject  with  a  master  hand,  and 
holding  it  to  view,  in  every  conceivable  light. 
And  there,  too,  was  the  prisoner;  proudly  pre 
eminent,  in  point  of  intelligence,  to  his  brethren 
of  the  bar.  He  had  been  the  Vice-President  of 
the  United  States.  He  was  accused  of  the  highest 
and  darkest  crime  in  the  criminal  code.  He 
stood  before  the  supreme  tribunal  of  his  country, 
with  the  eyes  of  the  nation  gazing  upon  him.  In 
the  opinion  of  many,  he  was  already  a  condemned 
criminal.  He  had  the  talent  and  tact,  and  the 

14 


158  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

resources  of  the  government,  to  contend  against. 
Every  faculty  of  his  mind  was  exerted  in  his 
own  defence.  The  magnitude  of  the  charge; 
the  number  of  persons  involved ;  the  former  high 
standing  and  extraordinary  fortunes  of  the  ac 
cused  ;  had  excited  an  interest  in  the  community, 
such  as  never  before  had  been  known.  The  wit 
nesses  against  him  were  mostly  officers  of  the 
government,  with  whom,  at  one  time  or  another, 
he  had  been  in  some  way  connected. 

For  twenty-six  days,  the  court  was  arduously 
engaged  in  the  investigation  of  the  offence.  The 
evidence  of  sixty  witnesses  had  to  be  examined 
and  noted.  Meanwhile,  there  being  no  suitable 
quarters  in  the  city,  Burr  was  confined  in  the 
Penitentiary,  in  the  suburbs  of  Richmond.  Every 
day  he  was  marched  into  court,  on  foot,  escorted 
by  a  body-guard  of  two  hundred  men,  which 
would  have  done  honour  to  an  eastern  prince. 
On  the  first  of  September,  the  jury  returned  a 
verdict ; — "  that  Aaron  Burr  is  not  proved  to  be 
guilty,  under  the  indictment,  by  any  evidence 
submitted  to  us;  we,  therefore,  find  him  not 
guilty"  Burr  objected  to  the  verdict,  as  being 
incorrect  in  point  of  form,  and  asked  that  the 
same  might  be  given  in  the  usual  way — simply, 
"  Not  Guilty."  Mr.  Hay  answered,  that,  in  fact, 


BURR  ACQUITTED.  159 

it  was  a  verdict  of  acquittal ;  and  that  it  should 
be  entered  in  the  jury's  own  words. 

"  There  was  no  precise  form  of  words  by  which 
the  jury  should  be  governed." 

"  They  have  no  right  to  return  a  written  ver 
dict  at  all,"  replied  Burr ;  "  they  have  no  right 
to  depart  from  the  usual  form."  He  then  called 
for  the  recital  of  the  common  directions  given 
the  jury  by  the  clerk.  They  were  read,  and  end 
as  follows : — 

"  If  you  find  him  guilty,  you  are  to  say  so :  if 
not  guilty ;  you  are  to  say  so,  and  no  more" 

"  The  jury  cannot  be  indulged,"  said  Burr. — 
"  They  have  defaced  a  paper  belonging  to  the 
court,  by  writing  upon  it  words  which  they  have 
no  right  to  write.  They  ought  to  be  sent  back." 
After  a  short  consultation,  it  was  agreed  that  the 
simple  verdict  of  "  Not  Guilty"  might  be  entered 
on  the  records  of  the  court. 

On  the  ninth  of  September,  Burr  was  again 
arraigned,  upon  an  indictment  for  a  misdemeanor, 
which  consisted  of  seven  counts ;  the  substance 
of  which  were,  that  Aaron  Burr  did  set  on  foot  a 
military  enterprise,  to  be  carried  on  against  the 
territory  of  a  foreign  prince,  viz.,  the  province 
of  Mexico,  which  was  within  the  territory  of  the 
King  of  Spain,  with  whom  the  United  States 
were  at  peace. 


160  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

After  the  prosecution  had  examined  some  of 
their  witnesses,  and  the  court  had  decided  that 
the  testimony  of  others  was  not  relevant,  the 
District-attorney  made  a  motion  to  discharge 
the  jury.  To  this  motion  Burr  objected;  insist- 
ing  upon  a  verdict.  This  was  on  the  fifteenth 
of  the  month.  The  court,  being  of  opinion  that 
the  jury  could  not,  in  this  stage  of  the  case,  be 
discharged,  without  the  consent  of  the  accused, 
and  that  they  must  give  a  verdict,  they  accord 
ingly  retired,  and  very  soon  returned  with  a  ver 
dict  of  "Not  Guilty." 

Blennerhassett's  journal,  kept  during  these 
trials,  as  given  by  the  biographer  of  Burr,*  shows 
his  great  admiration  of  the  talents  of  his  asso 
ciate,  and  Burr's  unyielding  attachment  to  his 
project. 

Extracts  from  the  Journal  of  BlennerJiassett. 
"  The  vivacity  of  Burr's  wits,  and  the  exercise 
of  his  proper  talents,  now  [at  Eichmond]  con 
stantly  solicited  here,  in  private  and  public  ex 
hibition,  while  they  display  his  powers  and 
address,  at  the  levee  and  the  bar,  must  engross 
more  of  his  time  than  he  can 'spare  from  the  de 
mands  of  other  gratifications ;  while  they  display 

*  Mathew  L.  Davis. 


COLONEL  DUANE'S  VISIT.  161 

him,  to  the  eager  eyes  of  the  multitude,  like  a 
favourite  gladiator,  measuring  over  the  arena  of 
his  fame,  with  firm  step  and  manly  grace,  the 
pledges  of  easy  victory. 

"August  17th,  1807.  This  led  me  to  praise 
a  pamphlet,  Agrestis,  which  Alston  yesterday 
brought  me,  being  two  letters  on  Wilkinson's 
proceedings  at  New  Orleans,  which,  for  its  ar 
rangement  and  strength,  as  well  as  imagery  of 
language,  I  observed  would  not  be  unworthy  of 
a  Curran ;  at  the  same  time,  inquiring  who  was 
the  author.  Alston  said  he  was  not  known.  I 
then  repeated  the  question  to  Col.  McKee,  who 
said  it  was  a  friend  of  ours ;  at  least  Mr.  Alston 
was  suspected.  I  mention  this  trifling  occur 
rence,  for  the  sake  of  observing,  that  Alston  was 
now  silent,  thereby  appropriating  to  himself  the 
merit  of  the  book,  which  his  wife,  I  have  no 
doubt,  might  produce.  To  suppose  Alston  the 
author  would  be  preposterous. 

"  August  23d,  1807.  My  reverie  was  soon 
broken  in  upon,  by  the  appearance  of  Mr.  Dou 
glas  with  a  stranger.  I  should  rather  have 
said,  by  two  apparitions ;  for  it  was  now  near 
nightfall,  and  Douglas  no  sooner  appeared  than 
he  turned  on  his  heel,  saying,  '  Colonel  Duane, 
sir/  and  ran  down  stairs.  The  surprise  of  this 
interruption,  the  stranger,  whom  I  had  never 

H* 


162  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

before  seen,  did  not  suffer  to  endure  long  enough 
to  allow  me  to  invoke  the  c  angels  and  ministers 
of  grace'  for  my  protection.  I  was  already  with 
in  the  grasp  of  this  Gabriel  of  the  government. 
He  seized  my  hand,  and  bade  me  dismiss  my 
surprise,  however  natural  it  might  be,  on  his  ap 
pearance  before  me.  I  handed  him  a  chair,  and 
said,  '  I  had  lived  long  enough  in  this  country  to 
be  surprised  at  nothing  it  could  produce  or  ex 
hibit,  but  yet  desired  to  learn  from  what  cause  I 
had  the  favour  of  his  visit.'  '  Having  heard  Mr. 
Douglas  observe/  said  he,  'that  you  would  be 
pleased  to  see  me  :' — <  Sir,  Mr.  Douglas  has  made 
a  mistake ;  he  must  have  meant  somebody  else.' 
'  No  matter/  continued  he  :  ( having  known  and 
seen  your  present  situation,  I  could  not,  as  a  man, 
as  an  Irishman/  (here  he  digressed,  to  show  me 
how  he  both  was,  and  was  not,  an  Irishman,)  'I 
could  not  leave  this  town  (Richmond)  without 
warning  you  of  the  sacrifice  now  preparing,  to 
appease  the  government,  by  your  friends,  of 
which  you  are  destined  to  be  the  victim.  You 
cannot  desire  any  other  key  to  my  meaning  than 
the  course  the  defence  has  this  week  taken.  But, 
if  you  think  the  government  will  not  cease  to 
pursue  that  justice  they  possess  the  means  of 
ensuring,  and  suspect,  as  you  ought,  the  designs 
of  those  you  have  too  long  thought  your  friends, 


COLONEL  DUANE'S  VISIT.  163 

it  might  yet  appear  no  better,  on  my  part,  than 
a  nominal  service  to  give  you  these  cautions.  I 
have,  therefore,  sought  you,  not  to  tender  you 
words,  but  deeds.  The  only  return,  on  your 
part,  will  be  that  care  of  yourself  which  will  find 
a  shield  in  my  Tumour'  (here  he  very  awkwardly 
struck  his  breast,  and  grinned  a  ghastly  smile) 
6  and  that  confidence  I  can  command  in  the  go 
vernment,  whose  good  faith  is  not  misplaced  in 
the  zeal  I  have  testified  to  serve  it.' 

"  To  this  harangue,  he  added  violent  protesta 
tions  of  his  wishes  to  serve  me ;  saying,  that,  for 
that  purpose,  he  would  put  off  his  journey  back 
to  Philadelphia,  which  otherwise  was  irrevocably 
fixed  for  Wednesday,  and  would,  now  or  at  any 
tune  hereafter,  go  to  Washington  for  me,  where 
nothing  he  should  ask  would  be  refused  him.  In 
thanking  him  for  the  frankness  and  zeal  with 
which  he  cautioned  me  against  my  friends,  and 
a  negligence  of  my  safety,  I  assured  him  I  was 
not  afraid  to  meet  the  prosecution,  as  I  expected 
I  should,  before  my  arrival  here,  without  counsel 
or  friends ;  but,  from  present  appearances,  I  was 
more  curious  than  interested  to  learn  what  were 
those  means  the  said  government  possessed  of 
insuring  justice.  Finding,  by  his  answer,  that 
he  was  now  disposed  to  allure  me  into  a  confes 
sion,  of  having  written  certain  papers  then  in  the 


164  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

hands  of  the  prosecutors,  I  told  him,  the  warmth 
of  his  offers  to  serve  me  could  not  make  me  for 
get  either  his  situation,  or  my  own,  with  relation 
to  the  government ;  that  I  cared  not  what  writ- 
ings  should  be  charged  upon  me ;  that  I  should 
admit  none  till  fairly  proved,  which,  if  any  such 
should  ever  appear,  I  would  justify,  if  necessary, 
on  the  scaffold.  He  now  summed  up  the  objects 
of  his  mission,  (whatever  produced  it,)  with 
abuse  of  Burr,  Tyler  and  Smith,  acknowledging 
that  he  had  been  served  gratis,  by  Burr,  in  the  most 
handsome  manner ;  that  the  others  were  more 
concerned  against  the  government  than  I  was ; 
but  swearing  that  he  believed,  if  I  did  not  follow 
his  advice,  they  would  make  a  scape-goat  sacri 
fice  of  me  for  their  deliverance. 

"August  25,  1807.  I  asked  Alston,  <  Would 
you  wish  to  see  my  notes  of  what  passed  between 
Duane  and  me?'  'Yes,'  said  he,  'very  much/  I 
then  read  to  him  the  minutes  I  had  taken  on 
Sunday  evening,  with  which  he  seemed  highly 
pleased,  and  said  they  ought  to  be  published. 

To  this,  I  told  him,  I  could  not  accede I 

informed  him  that  Duane  had  intimated  that 
government  had  got  possession  of  one  of  his  let 
ters  to  me.  ( One  of  my  letters !'  cried  he.  'I 
never  wrote  to  you  but  two  upon  private  busi 
ness  ;  and,  by  G — d  !  any  other  letter  they  can 


VISIT  TO  BURR.  165 

have  of  mine  must  be  a  forgery/  '  To  be  sure/ 
said  I;  '  or,  at  all  events,  from  the  favourable 
course  things  are  now  likely  to  take,  such  a  let 
ter  could  do  no  harm !  But,  what  did  the  rascal/ 
continued  he,  '  state  to  be  the  purport  of  the  let 
ter?'  ' Nothing  more/  said  I,  'than  that  you 
and  myself  were  all  equally  involved  in  all  Colo 
nel  Burr's  projects.'  He  then  abused  Duane, 
and  repeated  his  wish  that  my  notes  were  pub 
lished. 

"September  13th,  1807.  I  visited  Burr  this 
morning.  He  is  gay  as  usual,  and  as  busy  in 
speculations  on  re-organizing  his  projects  for 
action,  as  if  he  had  never  suffered  the  least 
interruption.  He  observed  to  Major  Smith  and 
me,  that,  in  six  months,  our  schemes  could  be 
all  remounted;  that  we  could  now  new-model 
them,  in  a  better  mould  than  formerly,  having  a 
better  view  of  the  ground,  and  a  more  perfect 
knowledge  of  our  men.  We  were  silent.  It 
should  yet  be  granted,  that,  if  Burr  possessed 
sensibility  of  the  right  sort,  with  one  hundredth 
part  of  the  energies  for  which,  with  many,  he 
has  obtained  such  ill-grounded  credit,  his  first 
and  last  determination,  with  the  morning  and 
the  night,  should  be  the  destruction  of  those 
enemies  who  have,  so  long  and  so  cruelly, 
wreaked  their  malicious  vengeance  upon  him. 


166  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

"  September  16th,  1807.  I  was  glad  to  find 
Burr  had,  at  least,  thought  of  asking  us  to  dine 
with  him,  as  I  was  rather  curious  to  see  him 
shine  in  a  partie  quarrie,  consisting  of  new  cha 
racters.  We,  therefore,  walked  with  him,  from 
court.  Luther  Martin,  who  lives  with  him,  ac 
companying  us The  dinner  was  neat,  and 

followed  by  three  or  four  sorts  of  wine.  Splendid 
poverty!  During  the  chit-chat,  after  the  cloth 
was  removed,  a  letter  was  handed  to  Burr,  next 
to  whom  I  sat.  I  immediately  smelt  musk, 
Burr  broke  the  seal,  put  the  cover  to  his  nose, 
and  then  handed  it  to  me,  saying,  '  This  amounts 
to  a  disclosure.'  I  smelt  the  paper,  and  said,  '  I 
think  so.'  The  whole  physiognomy  of  the  man 
now  assumed  an  alteration,  and  vivacity  that,  to 
a  stranger,  who  had  never  seen  him  before, 
would  have  sunk  full  fifty  years  of  his  age. 
'  This/  said  he,  '  reminds  me  of  a  detection  once 
very  neatly  practised  upon  me  at  New  York. 
One  day,  a  lady  stepped  into  my  library,  while  I 
was  reading,  came  softly  behind  my  chair,  and, 
giving  me  a  slap  on  the  cheek,  said,  '  Come,  tell 
me  directly  what  little  French  girl,  pray,  have 
you  had  here  ?'  The  abruptness  of  the  question 
and  surprise  left  me  little  room  to  doubt  the  dis 
covery  had  been  completely  made.  So,  I  thought 
best  to  confess  the  whole  fact ;  upon  which  the 


BLERNERHASSETT'S  JOURNAL.  167 

inquisitress  burst  out  into  a  loud  laugh,  on  the 
success  of  her  artifice,  which  she  was  led  to  play 
off  upon  me,  from  the  mere  circumstance  of  hav 
ing  smelt  musk  in  the  room.'  I  have  given  this 
anecdote  a  place  here,  only  to  convey  an  idea  of 
that  temperament  and  address  which  enables 
this  character  to  uphold  his  ascendency  over  the 
sex.  After  some  time,  Martin  and  Provost  with 
drew,  and  we  passed  to  the  topics  of  our  adven 
tures  on  the  Mississippi,  in  which  Burr  said 
little,  but  declared  he  did  not  know  of  any  rea 
son  to  blame  General  Jackson,  of  Tennessee,  for 
any  thing  he  had  done  or  omitted.  But,  he  de 
clares,  he  will  not  lose  a  day,  after  the  favourable 
issue  at  the  Capitol,  (his  acquittal,)  of  which  he 
has  no  doubt,  to  direct  his  entire  attention  to 
setting  up  his  projects,  (which  have  only  been 
suspended,)  on  a  better  model, 6  in  which  work,'  he 
says,  '  he  has  even  here  made  some  progress.' 

"September  20th,  1807.  I  found  Burr,  just 
after  a  consultation  with  his  counsel,  secretly 
writhing  under  much  irritation  at  the  conduct 
of  Judge  Marshall,  but  affecting  an  air  of  con 
tempt  for  his  alleged  inconsistencies,  as  Burr 
asserted  he  (the  judge)  did  not,  for  the  last  two 
days,  understand  either  the  questions  or  himself; 
that  he  had  wavered  in  his  opinions,  before  yes 
terday's  adjournment,  and  should,  in  future,  be 


168  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

put  right  by  strong  language.  I  am  afraid  to  say 
abuse,  though  I  think  I  could  swear  he  used  that 
word.  I  learned  from  Major  Smith,  to-day,  a 
confirmation  of  what  Colonel  de  Pestere  had  also 
mentioned  to  me : — that  Burr  sets  off  immedi 
ately  for  England,  after  his  liberation,  to  collect 
money  for  re-organizing  his  projects. 

"September  22d,  1807.  I  have  seen  a  com 
plete  file  of  all  the  depositions,  made  before  the 
grand  jury,  in  Burr's  possession.  It  must  be 
confessed,  that  few  other  men,  in  his  circum 
stances,  could  have  procured  these  documents, 
out  of  the  custody  of  offices  filled  by  his  invete 
rate  enemies.  Burr  asserted,  to-day,  in  court, 
that  he  expected  documents  that  would  dis 
qualify  Eaton  as  a  witness. 

"September  26th,  1807.  Wilkinson,  in  his 
examination,  confessed,  that  he  had  altered  the 
cipher  letter,  and  sworn  that  there  were  no 
alterations. 

"  Of  Dudley  Woodbridge,*  it  must  not  be  con 
cealed  from  those  who  may  have  access  to  these 
notes,  that  although  he  is  reported  to  have  given 
a  fair,  candid,  and,  to  us,  an  advantageous  testi 
mony,  he  has  not  yet  told  the  ivhole  truth,  having 

*  Former  mercantile  partner  of  Blennerhassett,  and  contractor 
for  building  Burr's  boats  on  the  Muskingum.  The  respectability  of 
Mr.  Woodbridge  is  undoubted  by  all  who  know  him. — AUTHOR. 


BLENNERHASSETT'S  JOURNAL.  169 

suppressed  my  communication  to  him,  of  OUT  de 
signs  being  unequivocally  against  Mexico  ;  which, 
I  suppose,  he  kept  back  because  he  embraced 
and  embarked  in  the  plan,  on  the  first  mention 
of  it  to  him,  though  he  afterwards  receded  from 
it,  upon  his  own  reflection,  or  counsel  of  others. 
Such  is  the  address,  with  which  ingratitude  and 
dishonesty  are  made  to  pass  in  the  garb  of  in 
tegrity,  like  tow-cloth  under  fine  muslin. 

"  October  8th,  1807.  I  called  on  Burr  this 
morning,  when  he,  at  last,  mentioned  to  me, 
during  a  short  tete-a-tete,  that  he  was  preparing 
to  go  to  England ;  that  the  time  was  now  auspi 
cious  for  him ;  and  he  wished  to  know  whether 
I  could  give  him  letters.  I  answered  that  I 
supposed,  when  he  mentioned  England,  he  meant 
London,  as  his  business  would  probably  be  with 
people  in  office  ;  that  I  knew  none  of  the  present 
ministry,  nor  did  I  believe  I  had  a  single  ac 
quaintance  in  London.  He  replied,  that  he 
meant  to  visit  every  part  of  the  country,  and 
would  be  glad  to  get  letters  to  any  one.  I  said 
I  would  think  of  it,  that  I  might  discover  whe 
ther  I  had  any  friends  there,  whom  it  would  be 
an  object  worth  his  attention  to  know,  and  took 
leave.  We  can  only  conjecture  his  designs.  For 
my  part,  I  am  disposed  to  suspect  he  has  no  se 
rious  intent  of  reviving  any  of  his  speculations 

15 


170  LIFE  OF  BLENNEHHASSETT. 

in  America,  or  even  of  returning  from  Europe  if 
lie  can  get  there." 

Extracts  from  the  "Private  Memoranda"  of  Blen- 
nerJiassett,  kept  while  confined  at  Richmond* 

Chief  Justice  Marshall. 

"  From  whence  Burr  did  not  infer  that  Chief 
J.,  will  on  the  present  occasion  shrink  from  his 
duty,  as  an  able  judge  or  a  virtuous  patriot,  to 
avert  the  revenge  of  an  unprincipled  govern 
ment,  or  avoid  other  trials  menaced  and  prepar 
ing  for  himself,  by  its  wretched  partisans.  ...  I 
am  certain,  whatever  insects  may  have  sought 
the  judge's  robes,  whilst  off  his  back,  none  will 
venture  to  appear  upon  the  ermine  which  be 
decks  his  person." 

Luther  Martin. 

"As  we  were  chatting,  after  dinner,  in  stag 
gered  the  whole  rear-guard  of  Burr's  forensic 
army — I  mean,  the  celebrated  Luther  Martin, 
who  yesterday  concluded  his  fourteen  hours' 
speech.  His  visit  was  to  Major  Smith,  but  he 
took  me  by  the  hand,  saying,  there  was  no  need 
of  an  introduction.  I  was  too  much  interested, 
by  the  little  I  had  seen,  and  the  great  things  I 

*  Wm.  Wallace.     "American  Review,"  1845. 


LUTHER  MARTIN.  171 

had  heard,  of  this  man's  powers  and  passions, 
not  to  improve  the  present  opportunity,  to  sur 
vey  him,  in  every  light  the  length  of  his  visit 
would  permit.  I  accordingly  recommended  our 
brandy  as  superior,  placing  a  pint>-tumbler  before 
him.  No  ceremonies  retarded  the  libation — no 
inquiries  solicited  him  upon  any  subject,  till  ap 
prehensions  of  his  withdrawing  suggested  some 
topic  to  quiet  him  on  his  seat.  Were  I  now  to 
mention  only  the  subjects  of  law,  politics,  news, 
et  cetera,  on  which  he  descanted,  I  should  not 
be  believed,  when  I  said  his  visit  did  not  exceed 
thirty-five  minutes.  Imagine  a  man  capable,  in 
that  space  of  time,  to  deliver  some  account  of  an 
entire  week's  proceedings  in  the  trial,  with  ex 
tracts  from  memory  of  several  speeches  on  both 
sides,  including  long  ones  from  his  own  : — to  re 
cite  half  columns  verbatim  of  a  series  of  papers, 
of  which  he  said  he  is  the  author; — to  caricature 
Jefferson ; — to  give  a  history  of  his  acquaintance 
with  Burr; — expatiate  on  his  virtues  and  suffer 
ings,  maintain  his  credit,  embellish  his  fame, 
and  intersperse  the  whole  with  sententious  repro 
bations  and  praises  of  several  other  characters ; 
some  estimate,  with  these  preparations,  may  be 
formed  of  this  man's  powers,  which  are  yet 
shackled  by  a  preternatural  secretion  or  excre 
tion  of  saliva  which  embarrasses  his  delivery. 


172  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

In  this,  his  manner  is  rude,  and  his  language 
ungrammatical ;  which  is  cruelly  aggravated 
upon  his  hearers,  by  the  verbosity  and  repetition 
of  his  style.  With  the  warmest  passions,  that 
hurry  him,  like  a  torrent,  over  those  characters 
or  topics  that  lie  most  in  the  way  of  their  course, 
he  has,  by  practice,  acquired  the  faculty  of  curb 
ing  his  feelings,  which  he  never  suffers  to  charge 
the  enemy  till  broken  by  the  superior  numbers 
of  his  arguments  and  authorities,  by  which  he 
always  out-flanks  him,  when  he  lets  loose  the 
reserve  upon  the  centre,  with  redoubled  impetu 
osity.  Yet  fancy  has  been  denied  to  his  mind, 
or  grace  to  his  person  or  habits.  These  are  gross, 
and  incapable  of  restraint,  even  upon  the  most 
solemn  public  occasions.  This  is,  at  all  times, 
awkward  and  disgusting.  Hence,  his  invectives 
are  rather  coarse  than  pointed;  his  eulogiums 
more  fulsome  than  pathetic.  In  short,  every  trait 
of  his  portrait  may  be  given  in  one  word : — he  is 
< the  Thersites  of  the  law'  " 

William  Wirt. 

"  Wirt  spoke  very  much  to  engage  the  fancy 
'  of  his  hearers,  to-day,  without  affecting  their  un 
derstanding.     For  he  cannot  reason  upon  the 
facts  before  him,  and  can  no  more  conduct  a  law 
argument  than  I  could  raise  a  temple ;  as  Junius 


AARON  BURR.  173 

says  of  the  king :  '  The  feather  that  adorns  him 
supports  his  flight;  strip  him  of  his  plumage, 
and  you  fix  him  to  earth !' >: 

Aaron  Burr. 

"Kecurring,  with  Mr.  Smith,  to  some  inci 
dents  that  happened  soon  after  our  first  arrival 
at  Natchez,  and  speaking  of  Cowles  Mead,  I  was 
much  surprised  to  learn,  what  I  had  never  heard 
before,  that  Mead  had  seriously  taken  up  the 
idea  of  Col.  Burr's  being  then  deranged — alleging 
that  he  could  not  be  mistaken,  as  he  (Mead)  had 
very  long  known  him.  Be  this  as  it  may,  Burr, 
yesterday,  looked  fifty  per  cent,  better  than  I 
have  ever  seen  him ;  and  displayed  a  command 
of  tone  and  firmness  of  manner  he  did  not  ap 
pear  to  possess  before  the  verdict  of  Tuesday." 

Burr,  having  been  discharged  on  both  indict 
ments,  those  against  Blennerhassett  and  the 
others  were  never  prosecuted.  Burr  and  Blen 
nerhassett  were  required  to  enter  into  a  recogni 
sance  in  the  sum  of  three  thousand  dollars  each, 
for  their  appearance  at  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  to 
answer  to  a  charge  of  misdemeanor ;  "  for,  that 
whereas,  they  prepared  an  armed  force  whose 
destination  was  the  Spanish  Territory."  Of  this, 
however,  no  notice  was  ever  taken ;  thus  ended 
the  conspiracy  of  Burr! 


174  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Origin  of  the  Burr  expedition — Miranda's  visit  in  1797-8 — His  object 
— Propositions  favourably  received — Visits  England — Receives 
encouragement  from  the  British  Ministry — Mode  of  arranging 
forces  for  the  subjugation  of  the  South  American  colonies — His 
plans  are  defeated  by  the  elder  Adams — Burr  conceives  the  plan 
of  the  subjugation  of  Mexico — Auspicious  circumstances — Encou 
ragement  received  from  distinguished  characters — Wilkinson's  aid 
proffered — His  counsel — Daniel  Clark — General  Jackson — Effect 
of  the  adjustment  of  the  Spanish  difficulties  upon  those  who  at 
first  favoured  the  expedition — Burr's  indomitable  perseverance 
— Treacherous  conduct  of  Wilkinson — Effect  of  Burr's  acquittal 
upon  the  public  mind — Character  of  Burr — Belief  that  Jefferson 
tacitly  assented  to  the  expedition — Circumstances  which  induce 
that  belief. 

MOST,  if  not  all,  of  the  characters  involved  in  the 
enterprise  of  Burr,  have  passed  from  the  theatre 
of  life  !  Their  acts  are  left  to  the  anxious  scru 
tiny  of  an  impartial  posterity.  Far  be  it  from 
us  to  approach  the  sanctity  of  the  sepulchre, 
wilfully  to  offer  an  indignity  to  their  remains. 
But  an  account  of  the  origin,  and  an  explanation 
of  the  circumstances  attending  that  noted  event, 
may  not  be  unacceptable  to  the  readers  of  the 


MIRANDA'S  PROPOSITIONS.  175 

present,  while  it  will  doubtless  prove  a  theme  of 
historical  interest  to  those  who  shall  follow  us. 

The  provinces  of  South  America  had  long  felt 
a  desire  to  resist  the  authority  of  Spain.  Miranda, 
a  bold  and  energetic  leader,  with  other  of  his 
fellow-patriots,  had  conceived  the  design  of  over 
throwing  the  Spanish  dynasty,  and  establishing, 
on  its  ruins,  an  independent  republic.  He  hoped 
to  procure,  as  allies,  in  this  herculean  undertak 
ing,  both  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain. 
With  that  view,  he  visited  this  country,  in  1797 
-'8,  and  sought  the  acquaintance  of  the  most 
distinguished  Americans.  Knox  and  Hamilton, 
who  stood  high  in  influence  and  official  station, 
favoured  his  project.  He  afterwards  proceeded 
to  England,  and  presented  himself  to  the  British 
ministry.  They  entered  into  his  views.  The 
proposition  was  that  the  United  States  should 
furnish  ten  thousand  troops,  and,  in  that  event, 
the  British  government  agreed  to  supply  the 
necessary  funds  and  ships  to  carry  on  the  expe 
dition.  From  several  communications  addressed 
by  Miranda  to  General  Hamilton,  it  appears  that 
the  auxiliary  land  forces  were  to  be  exclusively 
American,  and  that  of  the  navy,  English.  The 
enterprise  would,  doubtless,  have  proceeded,  had 
not  the  elder  Adams,  who  was  at  that  time  Pre 
sident,  declined  entering  into  the  arrangement. 


176  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

Burr's  attention  having  been  drawn  to  the 
subject,  he  determined  to  raise  an  army  for  the 
subjugation  of  Mexico.  He  had  frequent  con 
versations  with  Jay,  who  assured  him  that  the 
boldness  of  the  enterprise  would  contribute  to  its 
success.  "  From  this  period,"  remarks  his  biogra 
pher,  " until  1805,  Burr's  mind  seemed  constantly 
engaged  in  reflecting  on  the  feasibility  of  the 
measure,  and  the  proper  time  for  carrying  it  into 
effect." 

At  the  period  of  the  commencement  of  the 
expedition,  various  favourable  circumstances  ren 
dered  the  undertaking  apparently  auspicious. 
The  difficulties  with  Spain,  mentioned  in  a 
former  chapter ;  the  restlessness  and  disaffection 
of  many  of  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  regular 
army  in  the  west,  who  had  become  tired  of  a  life 
of  inactivity  and  ease,  where  there  were  no 
amusements  to  while  away  their  vacant  hours, 
nor  fields  of  battle  from  whence  to  pluck  the 
never-fading  laurels  of  conquest;  a  lack  of  har 
mony,  not  only  between  the  civil  and  military 
authorities,  but  in  the  ranks  of  the  military 
themselves ;  all  these  considerations  might  well 
have  flattered  Burr  that  the  fates  were  favour 
able  to  the  adventurer.  "  Indeed,  I  fear  treachery 
has  become  the  order  of  the  day,"  writes  General 
Jackson  to  Claiborne.  "  There  is  something 


CO-OPEEATION  OF  GEN.  WILKINSON.  177 

rotten  in  the  state  of  Denmark."  The  facetious 
McKee,  in  a  communication  to  Wilkinson,  re 
marks  : — "  Your  letter  found  me  far  gone  in  the 
blue  devils,  doubting  whether  I  had  better  expa 
triate  myself,  and  try  my  fortunes  amidst  the 
storm  now  gathering  in  Europe;  however,  nil 
disperandum,  Teucro  duce  auspice  Teucro.  I'll 
remain  here  till  X'mas." 

An  extensive  correspondence  with  various 
distinguished  characters  of  the  country,  assured 
Burr  of  their  countenance  and  co-operation,  in 
the  event  of  a  war  with  Spain.  Wilkinson,  the 
commander-in-chief  of  the  forces  in  the  West, 
writes  him,  under  date  of  October,  1805  : — "  I 
fear  Miranda  has  taken  the  bread  out  of  your 
mouth."  Wilkinson's  regular  force  consisted  only 
of  about  six  hundred  men,  around  which  the 
followers  of  Burr  were  to  form.  These,  in  fact, 
were  the  only  disciplined  corps  relied  on.  It  is 
said  the  commander  had  pledged  himself  to  strike 
the  blow,  whenever  it  should  be  deemed  expe 
dient.  All  that  was  wanting,  with  him,  was  a 
pretext  for  the  commencement  of  hostilities 
against  Spain.  He  detailed  to  Burr  all  the  in 
formation  he  possessed,  respecting  Mexico,  and 
pointed  out  the  facilities  which  would  probably 
be  offered  by  the  inhabitants  in  effecting  a  revo 
lution  :  "  On  his  suggestion,  Daniel  Clark  twice 


178  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

visited  the  country.  He  held  conferences,  and 
effected  arrangements,  with  many  of  the  principal 
military  officers,  who  engaged  to  favour  the 
revolution.  The  Catholic  Bishop,  resident  at 
New  Orleans,  was  also  consulted;  and  prepared 
to  promote  the  enterprise.  He  designated  the 
priests  of  the  order  of  Jesuits  as  suitable  agents, 
and  they  were,  accordingly,  employed.  The 
bishop  was  an  intelligent  and  social  man.  He 
had  been  in  Mexico,  and  spoke  with  great  free 
dom  of  the  disaffection  of  the  clergy  in  South 
America.  The  religious  establishments  of  the 
country  were  not  to  be  molested.  Madam  Xavier 
Tarjcon,  superior  of  the  Ursuline  nuns  at  New 
Orleans,  was  in  the  secret.  Some  of  the  sister 
hood  were  also  employed  in  Mexico.  So  far  as 
any  decision  had  been  formed,  the  landing  was 
to  have  been  effected  at  Tampico."* 

Daniel  Clark  engaged  to  advance,  for  the  pur 
poses  of  the  expedition,  fifty  thousand  dollars; 
but,  being  disappointed,  was  unable  to  furnish  it. 
Murray,  the  British  Plenipotentiary  resident  in 
the  United  States,  was  consulted  on  the  subject. 
He  communicated  to  his  government  the  project 
of  Burr.  Col.  Williamson,  the  brother  of  Lord 
Balgray,  was  despatched  to  England,  on  the 

*  Davis's  Memoirs  of  Burr,  vol,  ii.  p.  382. 


BURR'S  PLANS.  179 

business.  From  the  manner  of  his  reception, 
and  the  encouragement  he  received,  it  was  ex 
pected  that  a  British  naval  squadron  would  have 
been  furnished  for  the  enterprise.  General  Jack 
son  had  also  been  consulted,  and  funds  for  defray 
ing  the  expenses  of  his  division  were  placed  in 
his  hands  by  Burr.  The  disaffection  of  the  in 
habitants  of  the  South  and  "West  was  thought 
favourable  to  a  separation  of  the  trans- Alleghany 
territory,  and  this,  it  is  said,  was  among  the 
earlier  schemes  of  Burr,  although  but  seldom 
revealed,  except  to  those  whom  he  supposed 
would  favour  it. 

Such  were  the  preparations : — a  plan  well- 
matured,  and  auguring  success,  in  the  event  of  a 
war  with  Spain  : — for  upon  this  event  alone,  let 
it  be  remembered,  had  his  principal  force  con 
sented  to  join  the  expedition.  As  soon,  however, 
as  intelligence  had  been  received,  that  such  satis 
faction  had  been  rendered,  on  the  part  of  the 
Spanish  government,  as  to  obviate  the  necessity 
of  a  resort  to  arms,  many  of  the  warmest  advo 
cates  of  the  plan  abandoned  their  former  designs, 
and  turned  their  attention  to  scenes  less  dazzling 
but  more  productive  of  substantial  enjoyment. 
"  I  had  written  a  great  deal,"  says  McKee,  "about 
recruiting  in  Tennessee — about  cutting  and  slash 
ing  and  packing  dollars,  and  enjoying  otium  cum 


180  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

dignitate,  but  'all  our  differences  being  settled  with 
Spain  knocks  all  my  Utopia  to  the  devil !" 

Burr  had  dreamed  too  long  of  the  wealth  and 
splendour  of  the  halls  of  the  Montezumas,  to 
resign  their  captivating  pleasures  for  the  tamer 
scenes  of  a  government  in  which  he  was  becom 
ing  daily  more  unpopular ;  and  which,  he  now 
conceived,  viewed  his  actions  with  ungrateful 
suspicions.  For  years,  had  he  cherished  the  hope 
of  investing  himself  with  the  regal  power  of  that 
ancient  kingdom,  and  transmitting  its  crown  to 
his  latest  posterity.  For  the  realization  of  this, 
had  he  sacrificed  the  comforts  of  home ;  traversed 
the  States  to  the  extremes  of  Florida ;  often  tra 
velling  through  pathless  wildernesses,  sometimes 
without  shelter,  and  occasionally  without  food, 
alluring  to  his  standard  men  of  every  grade, 
prompted  by  every  motive  of  action. 

Confident  of  the  aid  of  Wilkinson,  and  the 
forces  under  his  command,  he  continued  his  ex 
ertions,  after  every  prospect  of  a  war  with  Spain 
had  ceased.  Whatever  motive  may  have  influ 
enced  the  subsequent  conduct  of  that  officer,  there 
is  but  little  doubt  that  he  had  given  Burr  the 
most  indubitable  assurance  of  his  firm  adhesion 
to  the  undertaking.  In  the  vagueness  of  conjec 
ture,  charity  would,  indeed,  suggest  such  reasons 
for  the  change,  as  usually  actuates  the  soldier 


TREACHERY  OF  WILKINSON.  181 

and  the  patriot;  but,  unfortunately  opposed  to 
this  conclusion,  is  his  demand  t)f  the  Spanish 
viceroy,  of  the  sum  of  two  hundred  thousand 
dollars,  "for  great  pecuniary  sacrifices,  in  defeat 
ing  Burr's  plans,  and,  Leonidas-like,  throwing 
himself  in  the  pass  of  Thermopylae." 

Notwithstanding  the  suspicions  with  which 
his  movements  were  observed  by  the  govern 
ment,  the  acts  of  the  Ohio  legislature,  and  his 
arrest  in  Kentucky,  Burr  still  persisted  in  his 
measures ;  giving  confidence  to  his  followers  by 
his  unflinching  determination.  Even  the  pro 
clamation  of  the  President,  and  of  the  several 
Governors  within  the  respective  States  and  Ter 
ritories  along  his  route,  could  not  deter  him. 
But,  when  he  was  informed  that  the  measures 
adopted  by  the  government  for  his  arrest  were 
through  the  advice  and  at  the  instance  of  Wil 
kinson  ;  that  lie  had  not  only  proved  treacherous 
by  exposing  the  scheme  and  magnifying  its  ob 
ject,  but  was  the  chosen  instrument  for  his 
arrest;  that  courage,  which  had  before  charac 
terized  his  actions,  completely  abandoned  him ; 
then,  and  not  till  then,  did  he  sink  under  the 
accumulated  difficulties  which  beset  his  path. 

He  was  arrested,  tried  and  acquitted,  "but  his 
country  refused  to  believe  him  innocent.  Though 
stout  old  Truxton  had  testified  in  his  favour; 

16 


182  LIFE  OF  BLENNEB-HASSETT. 

though  Jackson  had  seen  nothing  wrong  in 
Burr's  project,  *  but  agreed  to  favour  it ;  the 
popular  voice  continued  to  regard  him  as  a  trai 
tor,  whom  accident  alone  had  prevented  from 
dismembering  the  Union.  That  a  man  of  sense 
and  ability  should  entertain  such  a  notion ;  rely 
ing  for  aid  on  associates  whom  he  knew  would 
countenance  no  treason,  is  a  preposterous  and 
insane  supposition.  As  he  said,  on  his  death 
bed,  he  might  as  well  have  attempted  to  seize 
the  moon  and  parcel  it  out  among  his  followers. 
"  The  real  secret  of  the  popular  belief  is  to  be 
found  in  the  character  of  Burr.  In  him,  the 
elements  which  make  great  and  good  men  were 
strangely  mixed  up  with  those  which  we  may 
suppose  the  spirits  of  evil  to  pride  themselves. 
He  was  brave,  affable,  munificent,  of  indomitable 
energy,  of  signal  perseverance.  In  his  own  per 
son,  he  combined  two  opposite  natures.  He  was 
studious,  but  insinuating;  dignified,  yet  seduc 
tive.  Success  did  not  intoxicate,  nor  reverse  dis 
may  him.  Turning  to  the  other  aspect  of  his 
character,  these  great  qualities  sunk  to  insignifi 
cance,  beside  his  evil  ones.  He  was  profligate 
in  morals,  public  and  private;  selfish  and  artful; 
a  master  in  dissimulation,  treacherous,  cold- 
hearted.  Subtle,  intriguing,  full  of  promise ;  he 
shot  upwards  in  popularity,  with  astonishing 


CONNIVANCE  OF  JEFFERSON.  183 

velocity ;  but  a  skeptic  in  honesty,  a  scorner  of 
all  things  noble  and  good,  he  failed  to  secure  the 
public  confidence,  and  fell  headlong  from  his 
dizzy  eminence.  Here  lies  the  secret  of  his  ruin. 
There  was  nothing  in  his  character  to  which  the 
great  heart  of  the  people  could  attach  itself  in 
love ;  but  they  shrank  from  him,  in  mistrust,  as 
from  a  cold  and  glittering  serpent.  The  public 
rarely  errs  in  an  estimate  like  this." 

It  has  been  alleged  of  Mr.  Jefferson,  that  he 
was  privy  to  Burr's  arrangements ;  and  that  they 
were  tacitly  assented  to  by  him.  In  viewing  the 
various  circumstances — particularly  the  conduct 
of  the  President  himself — it  would  appear  that 
such  an  allegation  was  not  altogether  groundless. 
Burr  had  been  a  formidable  rival,  in  his  master- 
struggle,  for  the  Presidency.  It  had  required 
thirty  ballotings  to  decide  the  question  between 
them,  and  Jefferson's  final  success  was  owing  to 
a  compromise  of  the  members  of  the  Senate,  by 
which  the  votes  of  Vermont,  Delaware  and  Mary 
land  were  withdrawn  from  the  opposition,  through 
no  particular  preferences  for  the  latter,  but  to 
conciliate  parties  and  silence  the  exciting  topic. 
If  Burr's  political  aspirations  could  receive 
another  direction,  it  is  presumed  that  his  ambi 
tious  opponent  would  offer  no  objections,  provided 
success  would  place  him  beyond  the  circle  of  his 


184  LIFE  OF  BLENNEKHASSETT. 

own  operations.  Indeed,  it  had  been  suggested 
that  he  should  be  offered  a  foreign  mission,  that 
his  influence  at  home  might  not  cripple  the 
affairs  of  the  administration. 

The  subject  of  the  conquest  of  Mexico  was 
daily  conversed  upon  by  the  officers  of  the 
various  Departments,  as  is  clearly  established  by 
the  evidence  on  the  trial.  The  Spanish  war  was 
a  theme  of  universal  interest,  and  had  that  event 
happened,  what  cared  the  President  whether 
the  American  forces  paused  on  the  banks  of  the 
Sabine,  or  carried  their  arms  into  the  heart  of 
Mexico.  Already  had  arrangements  been  effected 
between  the  government  and  the  Spanish  officers 
of  Louisiana  and  Florida,  by  which  those  officers 
were  to  favour  the  Americans,  in  case  of  a  war, 
and  rally  under  the  standard  of  the  forces  of  the 
Union.*  And,  such  would,  doubtless,  have  been 

*  "John  Smith,  a  member  of  the  United  States  Senate  from  Ohio, 
•who  was  arrested  as  an  accomplice  of  Burr,  in  a  conversation  -with 
his  friends,  stated  that,  before  the  movements  of  Burr  had  attracted 
general  notice,  Mr.  Jefferson  requested  a  confidential  interview  with 
him,  (Smith,)  at  which  he  inquired  if  he  was  not  personally  ac 
quainted  with  the  Spanish  officers  of  Louisiana  and  Florida.  On 
being  answered  in  the  affirmative,  he  went  on  to  state,  that  a  war 
with  Spain  seemed  to  be  inevitable ;  and  that  it  was  very  desirable 
to  know  the  feelings  of  those  men  towards  the  United  States,  and 
whether  reliance  could  be  placed  on  their  friendship,  if  a  war  should 
take  place  between  the  two  countries.  At  the  same  time,  he  re 
quested  him  to  visit  the  country,  with  reference  to  that  object.  Mr. 
Smith  stated  that  he  did  visit  the  country,  as  requested ;  and  that, 


CONNIVANCE  OF  JEFFERSON.  185 

the  case,  had  a  declaration  of  war  been  pro 
claimed  ;  but  an  intimation  from  the  French 
ambassador,  that  the  measure  would  call  Napo 
leon  to  the  aid  of  Spain,  induced  the  government 
to  abandon  its  designs,  and  arrest  the  operations 
of  Burr. 

And  again ;  it  was  a  notorious  fact  that  the 
most  of  those  who  favoured  the  project  before 
the  President's  proclamation,  were  Republicans 
— the  friends  of  Jefferson,  who  had  but  little 
sympathy  with  Burr.  Party  spirit  ran  high, 
and  *  measures  inimical  to  the  administration 
would  have  been  instantly  checked  by  its 
friends.  Until  the  difficulties  with  Spain  had 
been  adjusted,  in  the  opinion  of  Jefferson's  more 
intelligent  adherents,  there  was  nothing  fright 
ful  in  the  preparations  of  Burr.  Indeed,  it  has 

on  his  return,  he  reported  to  Mr.  Jefferson,  that  the  governor,  the 
inferior  officers,  and  the  inhabitants  generally,  were  not  only  friendly 
but  were  desirous  of  attaching  themselves  to  the  United  States. 
This  was  in  the  summer  preceding  the  '  war  message'  against  Spain, 
which  was  sent  to  the  two  Houses  of  Congress,  in  December,  1805. 
Although  the  message  was  confidential,  it  soon  became  known  to  the 
diplomatic  corps  at  Washington ;  and  the  French  Ambassador  was 
ordered,  by  his  master,  (Napoleon,)  to  inform  the  American  Go 
vernment  that  France  would  take  a  part  with  Spain,  in  any  contest 
she  might  have  with  the  United  States.  It  is  a  matter  of  history, 
that,  after  that  notice,  the  project  against  Spain,  communicated  in 
the  confidential  message  and  referred  to  in  the  conversation  with 
Mr.  Smith,  was  abandoned ;  and  about  the  same  time,  measures 
were  taken  to  stop  the  movements  of  Burr. — Burnefs  Notes,  p.  294. 
16* 


186  I-IFE  OP  BLENNERHASSETT. 

been  charged  upon  the  President,  that  he  ap 
proved  of  the  project  of  Miranda;  if  so,  why  not 
also  that  of  Burr  ?  as  they  both  stood  upon  the 
same  platform,  and  were  equally  criminal  under 
the  law  of  nations. 


BLENNEKHASSETT'S  EMBARRASSMENTS.          187 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Blennerhassett  returns  to  Natchez  after  the  trial — His  pecuniary 
embarrassments — Sacrifice  and  abuse  of  his  property — His  com 
placency — Demands  indemnity  for  his  losses  from  Gov.  Alston — 
Purchases  a  farm  in  Mississippi,  and  commences  the  culture  of 
cotton — Mrs.  Blennerhassett' s  assistance — Flattering  prospects — 
Effects  of  the  embargo — Receives  the  intelligence  of  the  burning 
of  his  mansion. 

AFTER  the  close  of  this  memorable  trial,  which 
had  occupied  the  public  attention  for  several 
months,  Blennerhassett  returned  to  Natchez. 
The  continued  anxiety,  attendant  on  a  tedious 
investigation  of  the  charge  of  treason  in  which 
character  and  life  were  involved ;  the  accumula 
tion  of  debts ;  the  neglect  of  domestic  interests, 
and  the  rapid  decline  of  his  resources,  were  dis 
couragements,  indeed,  under  which  stouter  hearts 
might  well  have  sunk  without  the  charge  of 
effeminacy. 

The  creditors,  who  had  advanced  funds  upon 
his  obligations,  finding  his  pecuniary  affairs  be 
coming  daily  more  embarrassed,  were  insolent 
and  exacting.  Liquidation  was  demanded;  and, 
when  they  saw  that  he  neither  had  the  funds  to' 


188  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

meet  them,  nor  the  ability  to  procure  further 
credit,  they  pursued  him  with  the  precepts  of 
the  law,  with  a  rapacity,  equalled  only  by  their 
uncharitable  invectives.  A  portion  of  his  library 
and  philosophical  apparatus,  which  had  been  his 
amusement  in  prosperity,  and  the  solace  of  his 
darker  hours;  the  remaining  furniture  possessing 
value  to  him,  wholly  unappreciated  by  others; 
were  attached  and  sold  at  a  criminal  sacrifice. 

His  beautiful  mansion,  together  with  its  sur 
rounding  shrubbery,  had  been  regarded  and  used 
as  public  property.  Its  fair  gardens  had  been 
destroyed,  not  less  by  the  hands  of  the  ruthless 
freebooter  than  the  negligence  of  his  tenants  and 
the  floods  of  the  Ohio.  Not  satisfied  with  that 
which  might  be  removed  without  injury  to  the 
freehold,  the  window-casings  were  torn  out,  to 
procure  the  leaden  weights  by  which  the  sashes 
were  raised.  Even  the  beautiful  stone  roller, 
used  for  levelling  his  grounds,  was  crushed  to 
pieces,  to  obtain  the  iron  axles  on  which  it  ran. 
The  island  itself  was  extended,  by  a  writ  of 
elegit*  at  the  suit  of  Kobert  Miller  of  Kentucky, 
who  commenced  the  culture  of  hemp,  and  the 
manufacturing  of  cordage. 

Such  is  but  the  every-day  lesson  of  human 

*  A  process  by  the  Virginia  statute,  which  "extends"  the  lands 
of  the  debtor  until  the  claim  is  made  out  of  rents  and  profits. 


HIS  COMPLACENCY.  189 

experience ! — Such  is  the  sympathy  of  unfeeling 
man  with  the  misfortune  and  distress  of  his  fel 
low  man!  To-day,  he  kneels  at  the  shrine  of 
friendship,  as  the  beastial  Caliban  at  the  feet  of 
Stephano,  and  calls  the  object  of  its  worship, 
"  god ;"  to-morrow  shrinks  cowardly  from  it, 
and  returns  his  gratitude,  in  foul  misdeeds  and 
wanton  injuries. 

In  viewing  the  complacency  with  which  Blen- 
nerhassett  had  heretofore  regarded  Burr's  ac 
tions  towards  himself,  we  are  at  a  loss  whether 
to  attribute  his  silence  to  the  mildness  of  his 
temper,  or  a  lack  of  courage  to  vindicate  his 
honour  from  the  aspersions  of  his  enemies.  But, 
for  his  unfortunate  alliance  with  Burr,  he  might 
still  have  reposed  in  the  shady  groves  of  the  isle. 
But  for  Burr,  he  might  have  continued  to  enjoy 
those  peaceful  pursuits  for  which  he  had  aban 
doned  Castle  Conway,  to  secure  a  home  in  the 
secluded  forests  of  America;  but  for  him,  he 
might  yet  have  enjoyed  a  competency  beyond 
his  wants,  and  luxuriated  in  the  fields  of  litera 
ture,  without  the  fear  of  pecuniary  distress. 

It  was  not,  however,  until  driven  to  it  by 
necessity,  that  Blennerhassett  attempted  to  show 
how  much  he  had  really  been  injured  by  the 
man  whom  he  had  regarded  and  cherished  as  his 
friend;  but  who  had  now  deserted  him  in  the 


190  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

hour  of  misfortune.  Almost  bankrupt  in  purse, 
with  a  large  family  dependent  upon  him  for  sup 
port,  to  whom  could  he  look  for  indemnity,  for 
the  losses  sustained  in  the  enterprise  of  Burr? 
He  had  contributed  largely,  if  not  entirely,  to 
the  procuring  of  boats,  implements  and  provi 
sions  for  the  expedition,  and,  as  yet,  had  received 
nothing  in  return.  Both  Burr  and  Alston  had 
turned  a  deaf  ear  to  his  petitions  for  relief; 
indeed,  Burr,  had  it  been  his  desire,  could 
afford  but  poor  satisfaction  from  the  meagre 
remains  of  a  once  large  fortune.  Blennerhassett, 
accordingly,  addressed  a  letter  to  Gov.  Alston, 
demanding  of  him  the  sum  of  thirty-five  thou 
sand  dollars,  stating  that,  unless  he  advanced  it, 
the  writer  would  publish  a  pamphlet,  disclosing 
the  governor's  connection  with  Burr.  He  con 
cludes  by  adding,  "My  work  is  ready  for  the 
press.  If  you  do  not  prevent  its  publication,  you 
may  rest  assured  I  shall  not,  to  save  the  trouble 
of  smelting,  abandon  the  ore,  I  have,  with  such 
expense  of  time  and  labour,  extricated  from  the 
mines  both  dark  and  deep,  not  indeed  of  Mexico, 
but  of  Burr,  Jefferson,  and  Alston.  Having  men 
tioned  Burr,  I  wish  you  to  observe,  that  I  have 
long  since  ceased  to  consider  reference  to  his 
honour,  resources,  or  good  faith,  in  any  other 
light  than  as  a  scandal  to  any  man  offering  it, 


BECOMES  A  COTTON  PLANTEK.  191 

who  is  not  sunk  so  low  as  himself."*  The  pam 
phlet  alluded  to  did  not  make  its  appearance; 
and  it  was  afterwards  said,  that  the  sum  of  ten 
thousand  dollars  was  forwarded  by  Alston. 

Cotton,  at  that  time,  commanded  an  exorbitant 
price.  Investments  in  lands  adapted  to  its  cul 
ture,  and  slaves  to  work  it,  afforded  rich  returns 
for  the  amount  of  capital  employed.  Many  were 
turning  their  attention  to  it.  Blennerhassett 
conceived  it  a  favourable  mode  of  retrieving  his 
shattered  fortune.  He  therefore  concluded  a 
purchase  of  a  thousand  acres  of  land,  inClaiborne 
county,  at  St.  Catherine's,  near  Gibsonport,  Mis 
sissippi,  and  placed  upon  it  a  small  number  of 
slaves.  Here,  again,  after  the  varied  incidents 
of  two  long  years,  in  which  he  had  been  buffeted 
about,  by  the  whirlwind  of  uncourted  excite 
ment,  he  found  a  HOME. 

Individuals  who,  from  early  life,  have  been 
accustomed  to  battle  with  the  vicissitudes  of  for 
tune  appear  -to  struggle  the  greater  when  en 
countered  by  opposing  difficulties.  Those,  on 
the  contrary,  who  have  been  cradled  in  the  lap 
of  ease,  are  but  poorly  prepared  to  meet  adver 
sity,  unless  endowed  by  nature  with  unusual 
perseverance.  This  latter  quality,  it  was  not 

*  Burr's  private  Journal,  vol.  i.  p.  157. 


192  LIFE  OP  BLENNERHASSETT. 

Blennerhassett's  fortune  to  possess.  Accustomed 
not  only  to  the  comforts  but  the  elegancies  of 
life,  he  was  a  stranger  to  want.  His  sleep  had 
never  been  disturbed  by  visions  of  distress ;  nor 
his  energies  excited  through  cupidity  or  avarice. 
It  may  well  be  imagined  therefore,  that  he  was 
but  slightly  qualified  to  sustain  himself,  under 
his  present  embarrassments.  For  him,  life  had 
but  few  attractions,  save  those  that  were  found 
in  the  pursuits  of  science ;  and  to  deprive  him 
of  these,  was  to  deprive  him  of  the  happiness  of 
existence. 

With  a  full  appreciation  of  her  husband's  feel 
ings,  Mrs.  Blennerhassett  undertook  to  aid  him 
in  the  management  of  his  farm.  At  the  early 
dawn,  she  mounted  her  horse,  to  convey  to  the 
overseer  the  instructions  committed  to  her  charge. 
In  this,  however,  she  never  neglected  the  affairs 
of  her  household,  or  those  affectionate  attentions 
to  her  family,  which  render  the  felicities  of  home 
bright  to  the  recollection  of  husband  and  child, 
when  the  memory  of  all  else  has  perished. 

The  success  of  his  new  undertaking  animated 
Blennerhassett  in  the  hope  of  reclaiming  his 
losses  in  a  very  short  time.  Such,  indeed,  would 
have  been  the  result,  had  not  the  war  of  1.812, 
and  the  embargo  which  followed,  put  a  decided 
check  to  our  commercial  transactions.  Produce, 


HIS  MANSION  BURNT.  193 

of  every  description,  immediately  fell  in  price, 
until  the  commodity  would  scarce  pay  the  ex 
penses  of  marketing.  A  bare  subsistence,  there 
fore,  was  all  he  could  promise  himself,  until  a 
termination  of  hostilities  between  the  contending 
nations. 

But  misfortunes  seldom  come  singly.  It  was 
but  a  short  time  previous,  that  he  had  heard  of 
the  fate  of  his  island  residence,  rented,  by  him, 
to  one  of  his  Belpr6  friends,  but  who  was,  after 
wards,  dispossessed  by  the  Kentucky  creditor. 
As  the  beauty  of  the  grounds  had  been  entirely 
destroyed,  and  the  mansion  itself  much  injured, 
through  carelessness  and  neglect,  it  had  lost  its 
primitive  attractions,  and  was  now  regarded  as  a 
mere  convenience  in  farming.  In  the  year 
eighteen  hundred  and  eleven,  the  tenant  raised 
an  unusual  quantity  of  hemp,  which  was  stored 
in  one  of  the  wings  of  the  building.  On  a  very 
cold  night,  several  of  the  slaves,  who  had  been 
permitted  to  visit  their  Virginia  friends,  over 
turned  the  boat  in  which  they  were  returning, 
and  one  of  their  number  was  drowned.  Suffering 
under  intense  cold,  they  proceeded  to  the  cellar 
where  the  spirituous  liquors  were  kept,  to  obtain 
the  stimulus  for  counteracting  the  ill  effects  of 
their  accident.  Passing  through  the  entrance  of 
the  hemp-room,  to  which  the  stairway  led,  by 

17 


194  LIFE  OP  BLENNERHASSETT. 

accident  they  communicated  the  flame  of  the 
candle  to  the  hemp,  and,  in  a  few  moments,  the 
destroying  element  was  beyond  their  control. 
Stupid  with  astonishment,  at  the  awfulness  of 
the  spectacle,  in  the  darkness  of  the  night,  they 
neglected  to  apprize  the  inmates,  who  would  all 
doubtless  have  perished,  had  not  some  one  of 
them  fortunately  awakened  in  time  to  give  the 
alarm.  Escaping,  with  nothing  but  their  night- 
clothes,  and  a  few  articles  of  furniture,  they  be 
held,  with  awe,  this  beautiful  mansion,  which, 
but  a  few  years  previous,  had  been  the  abode  of 
peace  and  happiness — adorned  with  all  that  could 
embellish  or  beautify  its  appearance,  rapidly  re 
duced  to  a  mass  of  ruins. 


BLENNERHASSETT'S  PROSPECTS  DECLINING.       195 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Blennerhassett's  prospects  declining — Is  offered  a  judgeship  by  the 
Governor  of  Canada — Sells  his  estates — Removes  to  Montreal — 
Mrs.  Blennerhassett's  poetry,  "The  Deserted  Isle" — Blennerhas- 
sett  again  disappointed — Determines  to  prosecute  a  claim  subsist 
ing  in  Ireland — Sails  for  Ireland — Reflections — Applies  to  Lord 
Anglesey  for  office — Letter  of  Mr.  Gossett — Is  again  disappointed 
— Removes  to  the  island  of  Guernsey — Death. 

TEN  years  had  passed  rapidly  away,  since  the 
occurrences  of  the  "  Burr  expedition."  The  pros 
pect  of  regaining  his  fortune  became  daily  less 
flattering  to  Blennerhassett.  His  numerous  debts 
had  not  ceased  to  be  pressed,  at  the  imminent 
peril  of  a  total  sacrifice  of  his  remaining  property. 
While  thus  surrounded  with  insuperable  diffi 
culties,  a  ray  of  hope,  for  a  moment,  dissipated 
the  clouds  which  obscured  the  future,  and  thrilled 
with  joy  the  desponding  bosoms  of  his  household. 
The  acting  Governor  of  Canada,  an  old  and  inti 
mate  acquaintance,  hearing  of  his  critical  situa 
tion,  addressed  him  a  communication  tendering 
his  assistance.  Blennerhassett's  legal  attain 
ments  qualified  him  for  the  duties  of  the  Bench ; 


196  LIFE  OP  BLENNERHASSETT. 

the  Governor  knew  it,  and  offered  him  a  seat  in 
one  of  the  provincial  courts.  With  the  view  of 
accepting  so  desirable  a  post,  he  disposed  of  his 
fee  in  the  island,  as  well  as  that  of  the  Missis 
sippi  estate,  and  removed  to  Montreal,  in  1819. 

While  here,  with  prospects  of  poverty  and 
blighted  hopes  thickening  around  them,  Mrs. 
Blennerhassett  wrote  the  following  lines,  descrip 
tive  of  the  island — her  once  happy  home.  They 
are  from  the  overflowing  of  a  heart  which  had 
passed  through  much  sorrow,  and  are  an  eloquent 
lament  over  the  misfortunes  and  ruin  of  the 
family  and  fortune  of  Blennerhassett. 


"THE  DESERTED  ISLE." 

Like  mournful  echo,  from  the  silent  tomb, 

That  pines  away  upon  the  midnight  air, 

Whilst  the  pale  moon  breaks  out,  with  fitful  gloom ; 

Fond  memory  turns  with  sad,  but  welcome  care, 

To  scenes  of  desolation  and  despair, 

Once  bright  with  all  that  beauty  could  bestow, 

That  peace  could  shed,  or  youthful  fancy  know. 

To  the  fair  isle,  reverts  the  pleasing  dream ; — 

Again  thou  risest,  in  thy  green  attire, 

Fresh,  as  at  first,  thy  blooming  graces  seem  ; — 

Thy  groves,  thy  fields,  their  wonted  sweets  respire ; 

Again  thou'rt  all  my  heart  could  e'er  desire. 

Oh !  why,  dear  isle,  art  thou  not  still  my  own  ? 

Thy  charms  could  then  for  all  my  griefs  atone. 


"THE  DESERTED  ISLE."  197 

The  stranger  that  descends  Ohio's  stream, 
Charm'd  with  the  beauteous  prospects  that  arise, 
Marks  the  soft  isles  that,  'neath  the  glittering  beam, 
Dance  with  the  wave  and  mingle  with  the  skies, 
Sees,  also,  one  that  now  in  ruin  lies, 
Which  erst,  like  fairy  queen,  tower'd  o'er  the  rest, 
In  every  native  charm,  by  culture,  dress' d. 

There  rose  the  seat,  where  once,  in  pride  of  life, 
My  eye  could  mark  the  queenly  river's  flow, 
In  summer's  calmness,  or  in  winter's  strife, — 
Swollen  with  rains,  or  battling  with  the  snow. 
Never,  again,  my  heart  such  joy  shall  know. 
Havoc,  and  ruin,  rampant  war,  have  pass'd 
Over  that  isle,  with  their  destroying  blast. 

The  black'ning  fire  has  swept  throughout  her  halls, 

The  winds  fly  whistling  o'er  them,  and  the  wave 

No  more,  in  spring-floods,  o'er  the  sand-beach  crawls, 

But  furious  drowns  in  one  o'erwhelming  grave, 

Thy  hallow'd  haunts  it  water'd  as  a  slave. 

Drive  on,  destructive  flood  !  and  ne'er  again, 

On  that  devoted  isle  let  man  remain. 

Too  many  blissful  moments  there  I've  known ; 
Too  many  hopes  have  there  met  their  decay ; 
Too  many  feelings  now  for  ever  gone, 
To  wish  that  thou  couldst  e'er  again  display 
The  joyful  colouring  of  thy  prime  array : 
Buried  with  thee,  let  them  remain  a  blot, 
With  thee,  their  sweets,  their  bitterness  forgot. 

And,  oh  !  that  I  could  wholly  wipe  away 
The  memory  of  the  ills  that  work'd  thy  fall ; 
The  memory  of  that  all-eventful  day, 
When  I  return' d,  and  found  my  own  fair  hall 
Held  by  the  infuriate  populace  in  thrall, — 
My  own  fireside  blockaded  by  a  band 
That  once  found  food  and  shelter  of  my  hand. 
17* 


198  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

My  children  (oh !  a  mother's  pangs  forbear ; 
Nor  strike  again  that  arrow  to  my  soul ;) 
Clasping  the  ruffians  in  suppliant  prayer, 
To  free  their  mother  from  unjust  control, 
While  with  false  crimes  and  imprecations  foul, 
The  wretched,  vilest  refuse  of  the  earth, 
Mock  jurisdiction  held  around  my  hearth. 

Sweet  isle !  methinks  I  see  thy  bosom  torn ; 
Again  behold  the  ruthless  rabble  throng, 
That  wrought  destruction  taste  must  ever  mourn. 
Alas !  I  see  thee  now — shall  see  thee  long; 
But  ne'er  shall  bitter  feelings  urge  the  wrong, 
That,  to  a  mob,  would  give  the  censure,  due" 
To  those  that  arm'd  the  plunder-greedy  crew. 

Thy  shores  are  warm'd  by  bounteous  suns  in  vain, 

Columbia  ! — if  spite  and  envy  spring, 

To  blot  the  beauty  of  mild  nature's  reign  : 

The  European  stranger,  who  would  fling, 

O'er  tangled  woods,  refinement's  polishing, 

May  find,  expended,  every  plan  of  taste, 

His  work  by  ruffians  render'd  doubly  waste. 

"  Misfortune  having  marked  him  for  her  own/* 
Blennerhassett's  anticipated  promotion  was  never 
realized.  The  capriciousness  of  the  British  mi 
nistry  had  removed  from  office  the  sympathizing 
friend,  and  he  found  himself  cast  hopelessly  upon 
the  world,  at  an  advanced  age,  without  health, 
without  energy,  and  almost  destitute  of  the  means 
of  a  comfortable  subsistence. 

As  a  last  resort,  he  determined  to  prosecute  a 
reversionary  claim,  still  existing  in  Ireland,  re- 


RETURNS  TO  IRELAND.  199 

garded  by  him  with  indifference  in  his  more 
affluent  days,  but  which,  now,  in  his  destitute 
situation,  recommended  itself  strongly  to  his 
attention.  Through  the  influence  of  friends,  he 
hoped,  also,  to  obtain  an  office  under  the  English 
government,  by  which  he  might  the  more  readily 
gain  the  means  for  conducting  the  suit. 

Under  these  considerations,  he  left  the  Pro 
vince  of  Canada,  and  sailed  for  Ireland,  in  1822. 
As  the  receding  shores  of  the  American  continent 
were  dimly  shadowed  in  the  distance,  he  cast  a 
glance  towards  the  fading  scene.  A  recollection 
of  the  past  was  no  pleasing  retrospect.  A  quarter 
of  a  century  had  passed  since  he  had  hailed  those 
shores,  with  buoyant  hopes  and  joyful  anticipa 
tions  of  future  happiness.  To  him,  it  was  then 
a  land  wherein  was  to  be  realized  all  that  was 
lovely,  all  that  was  desirable  of  earth;  a  land 
of  freemen,  with  whom  was  the  abode  of  peace. 
Then,  he  was  in  the  noontide  of  manhood; 
blessed  with  health  and  a  competency  beyond 
his  wants.  The  smile  of  friendship ;  the  marked 
and  decorous  respect  with  which  he  was  met; 
the  welcome  greeting;  all  gave  evidence  of  last 
ing  enjoyment.  But,  how  mysterious  are  the 
dispensations  of  Providence  towards  the  children 
of  men !  He  had  lived  long  enough  to  see  every 
one  of  those  bright  hopes  perish;  his  fortune  had 


200  WEE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

been  lost;  his  health  most  seriously  impaired; 
and,  to  fill  the  measure  of  unhappiness,  he  was 
branded,  by  public  opinion,  with  a  design  of 
overthrowing  the  liberties  of  that  government 
which  had  allured  him  across  the  Atlantic. 
These  were  reflections  gloomy  in  the  extreme, 
and  still  the  future  was  not  less  cheerless.  As 
the  green  fields  of  his  native  isle  broke  upon  his 
view,  how  like  the  Prodigal  Son,  who  had  spent 
his  substance  in  a  foreign  shore,  did  he  return  to 
his  fatherland.  But,  for  him,  alas !  there  was 
no  "  plenty  and  to  spare ;"  no  fatted  calf  was 
killed ;  no  fond  embrace  of  anxious  friends.  In 
the  long  space  of  twenty-five  years,  how  many 
changes  had  served  to  break  the  ties  which  bound 
him  to  his  childhood's  home !  As  again  he  trod 
the  fields  of  his  former  sports,  memory  turned, 
with  melancholy  tenderness,  to  those  boon  com 
panions  of  his  earlier  years.  Where,  alas !  were 
they?  Nought  now  remained  to  identify  him 
with  the  past;  and  he  stood  a  stranger  on  his 
native  land ! 

Lord  Anglesey,  one  of  the  heroes  of  the  battle 
of  "Waterloo,  was  then  presiding  over  the  office 
of  Ordnance  at  London.  He  was  the  old  school 
mate  and  friend  of  Blennerhassett.  To  him, 
therefore,  the  latter  addressed  himself,  with  the 
hope  of  obtaining  a  situation ;  and  also  with  a 


REFUSED  AN  APPOINTMENT.  201 

view  of  procuring  a  patent,  for  an  "invention" 
which  he  deemed  of  some  importance.  The  re 
sult  of  his  applications  will  be  shown  from  the 
following  correspondence  : — * 

OFFICE  OF  ORDNANCE,  9th  of  June,  1827. 

SIR  : — I  am  directed,  by  the  Marquis  of  Ang 
lesey,  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter 
of  the  31st  ultimo ;  and  to  acquaint  you  that  his 
lordship  will  be  happy  to  receive  the  suggestions 
which  you  may  have  to  offer,  and  will  submit 
them  to  the  consideration  of  the  committee, 
whose  province  it  is  to  examine  and  report  upon 
the  various  projects  brought  before  this  depart 
ment.  With  respect  to  your  request,  an  appoint 
ment,  Lord  Anglesey  regrets  extremely  that  the 
long  list  of  pressing  claims,  received  from  his 
predecessor,  and  the  very  limited  means  of  at 
tending  to  them,  will  not  allow  his  lordship  to 
hold  out  any  expectation  that  it  will  be  in  his 
power  to  offer  to  your  acceptance  any  appoint 
ment. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir, 

your  most  obedient  servant, 

WM.  GOSSETT. 
H.  Blennerhassett,  Esq. 

*  Wm.  Wallace. 


202  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

What  the  "  invention"  was,  his  papers  do  not 
disclose ;  it  is  sufficient  to  state,  however,  that  it 
met  with  but  little  favour. 

Having  resided  a  sufficient  length  of  time  with 
a  maiden  sister  in  England,  to  find  his  plans  for 
the  future  prostrated,  he  removed  to  the  island 
of  Guernsey.  Here,  in  the  year  1831,  wearied 
with  the  turmoil  of  life,  he  sank  to  his  eternal 
rest,  in  the  sixty-third  year  of  his  age,  with  his 
head  softly  pillowed  on  that  bosom  which,  for 
thirty-four  years,  had  throbbed  in  perfect  unison 
with  his  own. 


REMARKS.  203 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Remarks  on  the  life  of  Blennerhassett — Mrs.  Blennerhassett's  desti 
tute  situation — Resolves  to  visit  the  United  States  to  procure 
indemnity  for  spoliations — The  reasonableness  of  such  a  demand 
— Visits  New  York — Presents  her  petition  to  Congress — Petition — 
Robert  Emmett's  aid — Letter  to  Mr.  Clay — Mr.  Clay  presents  the 
petition — Report  of  the  Hon.  William  Woodbridge — Death  of  Mrs. 
Blennerhassett — Is  buried  by  Irish  females. 

THUS  has  it  been  attempted  to  portray  the  life 
and  character  of  Blennerhassett.  From  youth 
to  age,  and  finally  to  the  grave,  we  have  followed 
his  footsteps,  with  an  interest  excited  more 
through  our  sympathy  than  our  admiration  of 
the  man.  In  his  life,  there  is  really  nothing 
remarkable.  His  scientific  acquirements  never 
gave  to  mankind  one  single  truth,  nor  devised  a 
plan  by  which  to  ameliorate  the  condition  of  his 
race.  His  is  not  that  fame  which  bedecks  with 
laurels  the  brow  of  the  hero;  or  springs  from 
those  actions  that  the  world  regards  as  great  and 
glorious.  Of  these,  indeed,  he  was  never  emulous. 
His  native  country  afforded  him  the  finest  fields 
for  military  notoriety,  and,  as  for  political  pre- 


204  &IFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

ferment,  the  times  in  which  he  lived  were  propi 
tious  to  the  aspirant.  The  names  of  many  of 
his  compeers  will  descend  to  posterity  in  living 
colours,  as  long  as  down-trodden  Ireland  shall 
retain  a  place  on  the  page  of  history.  That 
celebrity  which  attended  his  name  was  not  of 
his  seeking.  His  was  the  peculiar  temperament, 
fitted  better  for  the  enjoyments  of  private  life, 
than  the  battle-field  or  the  political  arena.  For 
this,  he  resigned  magnificence  and  ease,  for  ob 
scurity  in  a  western  wilderness ;  and  it  was  here 
he  enjoyed,  for  a  time,  that  uninterrupted  repose 
which  had  so  long  attracted  his  fancy.  There, 
too,  he  would  have  doubtless  remained  but  for 
the  circumstances  heretofore  narrated. 

At  the  death  of  her  husband,  Mrs.  Blenner- 
hassett  was  left  with  a  family  of  dependent 
children,  for  whom  her  greatest  exertions  could 
hardly  procure  subsistence.  Long  and  arduously 
she  toiled,  both  mentally  and  physically,  to  avoid 
impending  poverty.  It  was  not  only  necessary 
that  they  should  be  fed  and  clothed,  but  it  was 
also  important  that  they  should  receive  such  an 
education,  as  would,  at  least,  fit  them  for  the 
business-transactions  of  life.  She  had  now  arrived 
at  an  age  when  elasticity,  both  of  body  and  mind, 
were  nearly  destroyed;  and  this,  of  itself,  was 
sufficient  to  prevent  any  expectation  of  future 


DESTITUTION  OF  MRS.  BLENNERHASSETT.         205 

success.  Under  such  gloomy  prospects,  she  re 
solved  to  visit  the  United  States,  and  petition 
the  government  for  relief. 

In  this,  she  is  not  to  be  regarded  as  a  mendi 
cant  asking  for  alms,  but  rather  as  an  individual 
asserting  her  rights; — rights  most  wantonly  vio 
lated  by  the  officers  of  a  government  pledged  to 
the  protection  of  its  citizens.  These  quasi  agents 
of  the  President  had  not  only  detained  the  boats 
and  stores  prepared  for  the  enterprise  of  Burr, 
but  had  actually  destroyed  the  former,  and  con 
sumed  the  latter.  They  had  invaded  the  sanc 
tity  of  her  household,  had  appropriated  to  them 
selves  and  wasted  her  provisions,  broken  her 
furniture,  laid  waste  the  gardens,  torn  down  the 
fences,  and  had  done  serious  injury  to  the  man 
sion.  They  had  put  Blennerhassett  to  an  enor 
mous  expense,  in  defending  himself  at  Richmond ; 
they,  in  fact,  had  reduced  him  from  affluence  to 
comparative  poverty.  Was  this  extraordinary 
sacrifice  to  be  justified,  and  its  victims  to  remain 
unsatisfied  from  the  mere  fact  that  Blennerhas 
sett  was  accused  of  hostility  towards  the  govern 
ment  ?  Could  such  an  invasion  of  private  rights 
have  been  legalized,  if,  indeed,  he  had  been 
proved  guilty  of  the  acts  with  which  he  was 
charged?  The  American  citizen  has  cause  to 
rejoice  that  he  lives  in  a  land  where  his  rights 

18 


206  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

are  protected  by  law,  and  when  they  are  invaded, 
,  whether  by  government  or  individuals,  satisfac 
tion  must  be  equally  rendered. 

In  the  year  1842,  Mrs.  Blennerhassett,  with 
an  invalid  son,  visited  New  York,  and,  through 
the  hands  of  her  friends,  preferred  a  petition  to 
Congress.  With  a  meekness  of  disposition  which 
is  remarkable,  when  we  recollect  her  grievances, 
she  says : — 

"Your  memorialist  does  not  desire  to  exag 
gerate  the  conduct  of  the  said  armed  men,  or  the 
injuries  done  by  them ;  but  she  can  truly  say, 
that,  before  their  visit,  the  residence  of  her 
family  had  been  noted  for  its  elegance  and  high 
state  of  improvement ;  and  that  they  left  it  in  a 
comparative  state  of  ruin  and  waste.  And,  as 
instances  of  the  mischievous  and  destructive 
spirit  which  appeared  to  govern  them,  she  would 
mention,  that,  while  they  occupied  as  a  guard 
room  one  of  the  best  apartments  in  the  house, 
(the  building  of  which  cost  nearly  forty  thousand 
dollars,)  a  musket  or  rifle  ball  was  deliberately 
fired  into  the  ceiling,  by  which  it  was  much 
defaced  and  injured;  and  that  they  wantonly 
destroyed  many  pieces  of  valuable  furniture. 
She  would  also  state  that,  being  apparently 
under  no  restraint,  they  indulged  in  continual 
drunkenness  and  riot — offering  many  indignities 


MRS.  BLENNERHASSETT'S  MEMORIAL.          207 

to  your  memorialist  and  treating  her  domestics 
with  violence. 

"  These  outrages  were  committed  upon  an  in- 
offending  and  defenceless  family,  in  the  absence 
of  their  natural  protector,  your  memorialist's 
husband  being  then  away  from  home ;  and  that, 
in  answer  to  such  remonstrances  as  she  ventured 
to  make  against  the  consumption,  waste,  and 
destruction  of  his  property,  she  was  told,  by  those 
who  assumed  to  have  the  command,  that  they 
held  the  property  for  the  United  States,  by  order 
of  the  President,  and  were  privileged  to  use  it, 
and  should  use  it  as  they  pleased.  It  is  with 
pain  that  your  memorialist  reverts  to  events, 
which,  in  their  consequences,  have  reduced  a 
once  happy  family,  from  affluence  and  comfort, 
to  comparative  want  and  wretchedness ;  which 
blighted  the  prospects  of  her  children,  and  made 
herself,  in  the  decline  of  life,  a  wanderer  on  the 
face  of  the  earth." 

Eobert  Emmett,  the  son  of  the  celebrated 
Irish  patriot,  interested  himself  in  her  behalf. 
He  had  been  the  intimate  friend  of  Blennerhas- 
sett,  and  sympathized  deeply  with  his  afflicted 
family.  In  forwarding  her  memorial  to  the  Hon. 
Henry  Clay  of  the  United  States  Senate,  he  re 
marks  : — "  Mrs.  Blennerhassett  is  now  in  this 
(New  York)  city,  residing  in  very  humble  cir- 


208  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

cumstances,  bestowing  her  cares  on  a  son,  who, 
by  long  poverty  and  sickness,  is  reduced  to  utter 
imbecility,  both  of  body  and  mind;  unable  to 
assist  her,  or  provide  for  his  own  wants.  In 
her  present  destitute  situation,  the  smallest 
amount  of  relief  would  be  thankfully  received 
by  her.  Her  condition  is  one  of  absolute  want, 
and  she  has  but  a  short  time  left  to  enjoy  any 
better  fortune  in  this  world." 

Her  statement,  with  regard  to  the  destruction 
of  her  property,  and  the  acts  of  the  officers  of 
the  government,  were  fully  corroborated  by  Wil 
liam  Eobinson,  jun.,  and  Morgan  Neville,  both 
of  whom  were  present  at  the  island  when  the 
occurrences  took  place.  An  estimate  of  the  pro 
perty  destroyed  was  made  out  by  Dudley  Wood- 
bridge,  the  former  partner  of  Blennerhassett  in 
mercantile  transactions,  which  also  accompanied 
her  petition. 

It  would  be  presumed  that,  under  such  a  state 
of  circumstances,  the  American  Congress  would 
not  long  hesitate  in  granting  her  full  indemnity 
for  past  injuries.  Mr.  Clay  presented  the  peti 
tion,  and  eloquently  advocated  its  justice.  He 
had  known  Blennerhassett  in  the  noon-tide  of 
his  prosperity,  when  not  a  cloud  darkened  the 
horizon  of  his  effulgent  future ;  he  had  visited 
his  rural  palace,  and  regaled  himself  with  the 


DEATH  OF  MRS.  BLENNERHASSETT.  209 

luxuries  it  afforded.  He  had  partaken  of  its 
hospitalities,  and  been  entertained  by  the  sprightly 
conversation  of  its  inmates.  He  had  witnessed 
Blennerhassett's  arrest,  in  Kentucky,  and  man 
fully  exerted  himself  in  his  defence.  He  had 
afterwards  witnessed  his  declining  fortunes ;  and, 
when  destruction  had  laid  waste  his  possessions, 
had  wandered  over  the  ruins  with  feelings  of 
unsuppressed  sympathy. 

The  memorial  having  been  referred  to  the  ap 
propriate  committee,  of  which  the  Hon.  William 
Woodbridge  was  chairman,  he  returned  a  report, 
alike  honourable  to  his  intelligence  and  clear 
sense  of  justice.  He  advocated  the  claim  as 
legal  and  proper,  and  one  which  ought  to  be 
allowed,  notwithstanding  it  had  been  thirty-six 
years  since  the  events  transpired.  "  Not  to  do 
so  would  be  unworthy  a  wise  or  just  nation." 

The  claim  would  doubtless  have  met  with  the 
favour  of  Congress,  had  not  an  event  transpired, 
in  the  meanwhile,  which  rendered  further  action 
unnecessary.  Death  had  visited  the  suffering 
applicant,  and  relieved  her  of  earthly  wants.  In 
an  humble  abode,  in  the  city  of  New  York,  her 
spirit  had  silently  departed !  No  soothing  hand 
of  a  relative  fanned  her  fevered  temples,  nor 
wiped  from  her  brow  the  chilly  dews  of  expiring 
nature.  Within  that  lonely  chamber,  it  was 

18* 


210  LIFE  OF  BLENNERHASSETT. 

reserved  to  strangers  to  witness  the  last  sad 
scenes.  She,  who  had  been  born  in  affluence  ;— 
to  whom  the  world  appeared,  in  early  life,  as 
Paradise  before  the  fall ;  who  had  been  honoured 
by  the  attentions  of  the  great,  and  the  praises 
of  the  humble ;  whose  heart  was  ever  open  to 
the  cries  of  distress,  and  whose  hands  were  ever 
ready  to  relieve  the  wants  of  the  needy,  had,  in 
her  turn,  to  ask  the  charities  of  the  world ! 
Although  the  kindly  ministrations  of  a  society 
of  Irish  females  served,  in  some  measure,  to  as 
suage  the  agonies  of  her  parting  hours,  still  it 
was  hard  to  die  thus  destitute  and  deserted  5  for 

"  On  some  fond  breast  the  parting  soul  relies, 
Some  pious  drops  the  closing  eye  requires." 

And  now,  as  the  sable  hearse  moved  slowly 
along,  followed  only  by  those  devoted  "sisters 
of  charity,"  it  excited  no  interest  in  the  passing 
crowd.  No  mock  pageant  indicated  the  life  or 
station  of  the  deceased.  In  one  of  the  cemeteries 
of  that  city,  remains  all  that  is  earthly  of  that 
once  accomplished  lady,  separated  from  the  tomb 
of  her  husband  by  the  wide  Atlantic.  While 
on  their  graves  we  "  drop  the  tribute  of  a  tear," 
may  we  never  forget  the  lesson  that  their  lives 
have  taught  us. 


APPENDIX. 


i. 

MRS.   THEADOSIA  BURR  ALSTON. 

ONE  individual  alone  clung  to  Burr  in  his  hour  of  trial : 
need  we  say  that  it  was  a  woman,  the  only  daughter  of  the 
accused  ? 

If  there  is  a  redeeming  feature  in  the  character  of  Burr,  it 
is  to  be  found  in  his  love  for  that  child.  From  her  earliest 
years  he  had  educated  her  with  a  care  to  which  we  look  in 
vain  for  a  parallel  among  his  contemporaries.  She  grew  up, 
in  consequence,  no  ordinary  woman.  Beautiful  beyond  most 
of  her  sex ;  accomplished  as  few  females  of  that  day  were  ac 
complished,  she  displayed  to  her  family  and  friends  a  fervour 
of  affection  which  not  every  woman  is  capable  of;  the  cha 
racter  of  Theadosia  Burr  has  long  been  regarded  almost  as  we 
would  regard  that  of  a  heroine  of  romance.  Her  love  for  her 
father  partook  of  the  purity  of  a  better  world;  holy,  deep, 
unchanging ;  it  reminds  us  of  the  affection  which  a  celestial 
spirit  might  be  supposed  to  entertain  for  a  parent,  cast  down 
from  heaven,  for  sharing  in  the  sin  of  the  "  Son  of  the  Morn 
ing."  No  sooner  did  she  hear  of  the  arrest  of  her  father,  than 
she  fled  to  his  side.  There  is  nothing  in  human  history  more 
touching  than  the  hurried  letters,  blotted  with  tears,  in  which 


212  APPENDIX. 

she  announced  her  daily  progress  to  Richmond ;  for  she  was 
too  weak  to  travel  with  the  rapidity  of  the  mail.  Even  the 
character  of  Burr  borrows  a  momentary  halo  from  hers, 
when  we  peruse  his  replies,  in  which,  forgetting  his  peril  and 
relaxing  the  stern  front  he  assumed  towards  his  enemies,  he 
laboured  only  to  quiet  her  fears,  and  inspire  her  with  confi 
dence  in  his  acquittal.  He  even  writes  from  his  prison  in  a 
tone  of  gayety,  jestingly  regretting  that  his  accommodations 
are  not  more  elegant  for  her  reception.  Once,  and  once  only, 
does  he  melt,  and  that  is  to  tell  her  that  in  the  event  of  the 
worst,  he  will  die  worthy  of  himself. 

After  his  trial,  Burr  went  abroad,  virtually  a  banished  man. 
He  was  still  full  of  his  schemes  against  Mexico  and  the  Spa 
nish  provinces ;  but  in  England  he  met  with  no  encourage 
ment,  the  nation  being  engaged  in  the  Peninsular  war.  He 
afterwards  visited  France,  where  his  petitions  were  equally  dis 
regarded,  the  Emperor  being  engrossed  in  the  continental 
wars.  Here  his  funds  failed.  He  had  no  friend  to  apply  to, 
and  was  forced  to  borrow,  on  one  occasion,  a  couple  of  sous 
from  a  cigar  woman  on  the  corner  of  the  street. 

At  last  he  returned  to  New  York,  but  in  how  different  a 
guise  from  the  days  of  his  glory !  No  cannon  thundered  at 
his  coming,  no  crowd  thronged  along  the  quay.  Men  gazed 
suspiciously  upon  him  as  he  walked  along,  or  crossed  the 
street  to  avoid  him,  as  one  having  the  pestilence.  But  he 
was  not,  he  thought,  wholly  destitute.  His  daughter  still 
lived,  his  heart  yearned  to  clasp  her  to  his  bosom.  She  left 
Charleston,  South  Carolina,  accordingly,  to  meet  him.  But 
although  more  than  thirty  years  have  elapsed,  no  tidings  of 
the  pilot  boat  in  which  she  sailed  have  ever  been  received. 
Weeks  grew  into  months,  and  months  glided  into  years.  Yet 
her  father  and  husband  watched  in  vain  for  her  coming. 
Whether  the  vessel  perished  by  conflagration — whether  it 


THEADOSIA  BURR  ALSTON.  213 

foundered  in  a  gale,  or  whether  it  was  taken  by  pirates,  and 
all  on  board  murdered,  will  never  be  known,  until  the  great 
day  when  the  sea  shall  give  up  its  dead. 

It  is  said  that  this  blow  broke  the  heart  of  Burr,  and  that 
though  in  public  he  maintained  a  proud  equanimity,  in  pri 
vate,  tears  forced  themselves  down  his  furrowed  cheeks.  He 
lived  thirty  years  after  this  event;  but  in  his  own  words 
"  felt  severed  from  the  human  race."  He  had  neither  brother, 
nor  sister,  nor  lineal  descendant.  No  man  called  him  by  the 
endearing  name,  of  friend.  The  weight  of  fourscore  years 
was  on  his  brow.  He  was  racked  by  disease.  At  last  death, 
so  long  desired,  came,  but  it  is  said  in  a  miserable  lodging 
and  alone.  Was  there  ever  such  a  retribution  ? 

ANONYMOUS. 


214  APPENDIX. 

II. 

SECRET  CORRESPONDENCE. 

GENERAL  WILKINSON  and  Burr  began  their  correspondence 
in  cipher  about  the  years  1800  and  1801,  near  the  period  at 
which  the  latter  ascended  the  chair  of  the  Vice-Presidency. 
For  this  purpose  they  adopted  three  different  ciphers. 
The  first  is  called  the  hieroglyphic 

Xl.'3-0^1-f-^"V/Cs ^  o  -  A" 

O  President. 
O  Vice-President. 
-f-  Secretary  of  State. 

It  was  invented  by  General  Wilkinson  and  Captain  Camp 
bell  Smith  as  long  ago  as  the  year  1794,  '95,  or  '96,  for  the 
purpose  of  communicating  confidentially  with  the  general 
officers  in  the  Western  country. 

Another  cipher,  of  a  somewhat  similar  construction,  was 
divised  by  Captain  Smith  in  1791,  in  which  the  hieroglyphics 
representing  the  President  and  Vice-President  are  the  same 
with  those  used  in  the  cipher  of  Col.  Burr. 

The  second  is  denominated  the  arbitrary  alphabet  cipher; 
and  was  formed  by  Burr  and  Wilkinson  in  the  year  1799  or 

1800. 

ABCDEFOH. 

-    I    •/•    ^   A    V   T    & 
1234 
T      L     J     D 

This  cipher  was  nothing  more  than  a  substitution  of  cha 
racters  in  the  place  of  letters  which  actually  compose  the 
alphabet.  It  was  also  used  in  figures,  from  one  to  ten. 


SECRET  CORRESPONDENCE.  215 

The  third  is  styled  the  dictionary  cipher;  and  was  adopted 
by  them  in  the  year  1800.  The  famous  letters  from  Burr  to 
Wilkinson,  of  the  22d  July,  1806,  delivered  by  Swartwout  at 
Natchez,  and  its  duplicate  of  the  29th  of  the  same  month,  con 
veyed  to  Bollman,  were  written  partly  in  each  of  these  two 
ciphers,  and  partly  in  English.  The  Wilmington  edition  of 
Entick's  Pocket  Dictionary  of  1800  served  as  the  key,  by 
which  such  parts  of  the  letters  as  were  written  in  figures  were 
to  be  interpreted.  For  example,  if  the  figures  3  and  4  were 
used,  the  figure  3  pointed  out  the  page  in  the  book,  and  4  the 
number  of  the  word  intended — counting  from  the  top  in  the 
first  or  second  column  on  the  page,  which  latter  circumstance 
was  indicated  by  a  slight  mark  above  or  below  the  4. 

General  Dayton's  letters  of  the  16th  and  24th  July,  which 
were  forwarded  in  company  with  Burr's  by  Swartwout  and 
Bollman,  were  written  partly  in  hieroglyphics  and  the  arbi 
trary  alphabetical  ciphers,  above  described,  partly  in  English, 
but  principally  in  Dayton's  own  cipher,  of  which  the  key-word 
is  FRANCE. 

It  is  composed  in  the  following  manner,  the  letters  of  the 
alphabet  being  numbered  thus  : 

1234567890 
abode  fghi  j 

In  order  to  decipher  a  letter  or  passage  written  in  cipher, 
take  the  first  letter  of  the  key-word  F,  fix  on  the  letter  in  the 
series  of  the  alphabet;  count  forward  from  that  letter  as 
many  letters  as  are  equal  to  the  first  figure  in  the  ciphered 
letter ;  as  8,  for  example,  which  will  give  I,  and  I  will  be  the 
first  letter  of  the  first  word ;  then  take  the  second  letter  of  the 
key  word  R,  and  in  the  same  manner  as  in  the  first  instance, 
count  forward  as  many  letters  as  are  equal  to  the  second 
figure ;  as  2,  which  will  give  the  second  letter  T,  completing 
the  first  word,  It.  Continue  the  same  way  with  the  ensuing 


216  APPENDIX. 

letters  of  the  key-word,  till  they  are  finished ;  and  then  begin 
again — thus  going  through  the  key  word  again  and  again  until 
the  letter  is  completed. 

In  the  ciphered  letter  the  figure,  or  aggregate  of  figures 
representing  words,  are  separated  by  commas. 

There  was  another  cipher  in  use  among  some  of  the  accom 
plices  in  this  enterprise,  the  key-word  of  which  was  CUBA. 
The  use  of  this  cipher  may  be  understood  from  the  following 
scheme  and  explanations : — 


1 

C 

U 

B 

A 

2 

..  d 

.  .  v 

.  .  c 

..  b 

3 

.  .  e 

.  .  w 

..  d 

.  .  c 

4 

..  f 

.  .  X 

.  .  e 

..  d 

5 

.  .  g 

•••  y 

..  f 

.  .  e 

6 

.  .  h 

.  .  z 

•  •  S 

..  f 

7 

.  .  i 

.  .  a 

.  .  h 

g 

8 

•  •  J 

..  b 

.  .  i 

h 

9 

.  .  k 

.  .  c 

j 

.  .  i 

10 

..  1 

..  d 

.  .  k 

...  J 

11 

.  .  m 

.  .  e 

..  1 

..  k 

12 

.  .  n 

..  f 

.  .  m 

..  1 

13 

.  .  o 

.  .  g 

.  .  n 

.  .  m 

14 

..  p 

h 

.  .  0 

.  .  n 

15 

..  q 

.  .  i 

••  P 

.  .  0 

16 

.  .  r 

.  .  j 

..  q 

..  p 

17 

.  .  s 

.  .  k 

.  .  r 

.  .  q 

18 

..  t 

..  1 

.  .  s 

.  .  r 

19 

.  .  u 

.  .  m 

.  .  t 

.  .  s 

20 

.  .  V 

.  .  n 

.  .  u 

..  t 

21 

.  .  w 

.  .  0 

.  .  v 

.  .  u 

22 

.  .  X 

••  P 

.  .  w 

.  .  V 

23 

•  -  y 

..  q 

.  .  x 

.  .  w 

24 

.  .  z 

.  .  r 

•  •  y 

.  .  X 

25 

.  .  a 

.  .  s 

.  .  z 

•  •  y 

26 

..  b 

.  .  t 

.  .  a 

.  .  z 

In  order  to  compose  a  letter  in  this  species  of  cipher,  find 
in  the  column  under  the  first  letter  in  the  key-word,  the  first 


SECRET  CORRESPONDENCE.  217 

letter  of  the  word  which  you  wish  to  write,  and  the  figure  oppo 
site  to  this  letter  represents  the  first  letter  of  that  word.  To 
find  the  figure  expressive  of  the  second  letter,  look  for  that 
letter  in  the  second  column,  and  the  figure  opposite  to  that 
letter  represents  the  second  letter  in  the  word.  Continue  in 
the  same  way  with  respect  to  the  other  two  columns,  if  it  be 
a  word  of  three  or  four  letters.  But  if  it  contains  more  than 
four  letters,  you  must  return  to  the  first  column  and  proceed 
in  the  same  manner ;  that  is,  the  fifth  letter  of  the  word  is  to 
be  found  in  the  first  column  under  C ;  the  sixth  letter  in  the 
second  column,  and  so  on.  Thus,  if  Hope  was  the  first  word 
in  the  epistle,  look  for  the  letter  H  in  the  first  column  under 
C,  which  is  opposite  the  figure  6  as  the  representative  of  the 
first  letter ;  the  letter  O  is  to  be  sought  for  in  the  second 
column,  and  is  represented  by  the  number  21 ;  and  so  on 
with  the  letters  P  and  E. 

In  the  ciphered  letters,  the  figures  representing  letters  are 
separated  by  periods. 

The  reader  will  immediately  perceive  that  besides  Franca 
and  Cuba,  any  other  words  might  be  used  as  key-words  of 
these  ciphers,  according  to  the  discretion  of  the  writer  and 
his  correspondent.  The  difiiculty  of  discovering  the  key  to 
one  of  these  ciphered  letters  would  be  still  further  augmented 
by  the  writer's  shifting  his  key-word  for  different  epistles, 
according  to  some  rule  previously  agreed  on.  The  difiiculty 
would  be  incalculably  increased,  if  the  writer  not  only  con 
tinues  to  shift  his  key-word,  but  the  cipher  itself. 

Richmond  Enguirer  0/1807. 


19 


218  APPENDIX. 


III. 

THE  BATTLE  OP  MUSKINGUM,  OR  DEFEAT  OP  THE  BURETTES. 
NOVEMBER  1806,  BY  GENERAL  E.  W.  TUPPER. 

IT  has  been  the  province  of  the  bards  in  all  ages,  to  record 
the  glorious  achievements  of  their  warriors.  The  heroes  of 
the  Nile,  Marengo,  and  Austerlitz,  have  had  their  honours 
recounted;  and  shall  not  those  of  Muskingum  live,  while 
thousands  are  forgotten  ?  Yes,  ye  virtuous  few  !  Ye  also 
shall  live !  and  millions  yet  unborn,  while  passing,  shall  point 
to  the  shores  of  Muskingum  and  the  plains  of  Marietta,  and 
say,  "  There  fought  the  brave,  and  there  the  immortal  fell !  I" 
The  following  imitation  of  the  "  Battle  of  the  Kegs"  is  offered 
to  the  public,  not  without  its  many  imperfections.  The 
writer  has,  in  several  instances,  chosen  to  sacrifice  the  harmony 
of  his  rhymes  to  the  more  essential  article — truth. 

Ye  jovial  throng,  come  join  the  song 

I  sing  of  glorious  feats,  sirs ; 
Of  bloodless  wounds,  of  laurels,  crowns, 

Of  charges,  and  retreats,  sirs ; 

Of  thundering  guns,  and  honours  won, 

By  men  of  daring  courage ; 
Of  such  as  dine  on  beef  and  wine, 

And  such  as  sup  their  porridge. 


THE  BATTLE  OF  MUSKINGUM.       219 

When  Blanny's  fleet,  so  snug  and  neat, 

Come  floating  down  the  tide,  sirs, 
Ahead  was  seen,  one-eyed  Clark  Green,* 

To  work  them,  or  to  guide,  sirs. 

Our  General  brave,  f  the  order  gave, 

"To  arms!     To  arms!  in  season! 
Old  Blanny's  boats,  most  careless  float, 

Brim-full  of  death  and  treason!" 

A  few  young  boys,  their  mother's  joys, 

And  five  men  there  were  found,  sirs, 
Floating  at  ease — each  little  sees 

Or  dreams  of  death  and  wound,  sirs. 

«  Fly  to  the  bank !  on  either  flank ! 

We'll  fire  from  every  corner ; 
We'll  stain  with  blood  Muskingum's  flood, 
And  gain  immortal  honour. 

The  cannon  there  shall  rend  the  air, 

Loaded  with  broken  spikes,  boys, 
While  our  cold  lead,  hurled  by  each  head, 

Shall  give  the  knaves  the  gripes,  boys, 

Let  not  maids  sigh,  or  children  cry, 

Or  mothers  drop  a  tear,  boys, 
I  have  the  BaronJ  in  my  head, 

Therefore  you've  nought  to  fear,  boys, 

Now  to  your  posts,  this  numerous  host, 

Be  manly,  firm,  and  steady. 
But  do  not  fire,  till  I  retire, 

And  say  when  I  am  ready." 

*  A  bold  man,  well  known  in  those  days, 
f  Major-general  Buell. 

J  The  only  system  of  military  tactics  then  in  use  in  the  western 
country  among  the  officers,  was  that  of  Baron  Steuben, 


220  APPENDIX. 

The  Deputy,*  courageously, 
Kode  forth  in  power  and  pride,  sirs ; 

Twitching  his  reins,  the  man  of  brainsf 
Was  posted  by  his  side,  sirs. 

The  men  in  ranks  stand  on  the  banks, 
While,  distant  from  its  border, 

The  active  aid  scours  the  parade, 
And  gives  the  general  order. 

"First,  at  command,  bid  them  to  stand  ; 

Then,  if  one  rascal  gains  out, 
Or  lifts  his  poll ; — G — d  d — n  his  soul, 
And  blow  the  traitor's  brains  out." 

The  night  was  dark,  silent  came  Clark 
With  twelve  or  fifteen  more,  sirs ; 

While  Paddy  Hill,  with  voice  most  shrill 
Hooped!  as  was  said  before,  sirs, 

The  trembling  ranks,  along  the  banks, 
Fly  into  Shipman's  manger  ; 

While  old  Clark  Green,  with  voice  serene, 
Cried,  "Soldiers,  there's  no  danger. 

"  Our  guns,  good  souls,  are  setting  poles, 

Dead  hogs  I'm  sure  can't  bite  you  ;f 
Along  each  keel  is  Indian  meal ; 

There's  nothing  here  need  fright  you." 

Out  of  the  barn,  still  in  alarm, 
Came  fifty  men,  or  more,  sirs, 

And  seized  each  boat  and  other  float, 
And  tied  them  to  the  shore,  sirs. 


*  Governor  Meigs. 
f  Name  withheld, 
j  The  boats  had  in  them  hogs  recently  slaughtered, 


THE  BATTLE  OF  MUSKINGUM.       221 

This  plunder  rare,  they  sport  and  share, 

And  each  a  portion  grapples. 
'Twas  half  a  kneel*  of  Indian  meal, 

And  ten  of  Putnam's  apples,  f 

The  boats  they  drop  to  Allen's  shop, 

Commanded  by  O'Flannon, 
Where,  lashed  ashore,  without  an  oar, 

They  lay  beneath  the  cannon. 

This  band  so  bold,  the  night  being  cold, 

And  blacksmith's  shop  being  handy; 
Around  the  forge  they  drink  and  gorge 

On  whisky  and  peach-brandy. 

Two  honest  tars,  who  had  some  scars, 

Beheld  their  trepidation ; 
Cries  Tom,  "Come,  Jack,  let's  fire  a  crack; 

'Twill  fright  them  like  damnation. 

"  Tyler  they  say,  lies  at  Belpre', 

Snug  in  old  Blanny's  quarters ; 
Yet  this  pale  host,  tremble  like  ghosts, 
For  fear  he'll  walk  on  waters." 

No  more  was  said,  but  off  they  sped, 

To  fix  what  they'd  begun  on  ; 
At  one  o'clock,  firm  as  a  rock, 

They  fired  the  spun-yarn  cannon. 

Trembling  and  wan  stood  every  man ; 

Then  bounced  and  shouted  murder, 
While  Seargant  Morse,  squealed  like  a  horse, 

To  get  the  folks  to  order. 


*  A  measure  of  two  quarts. 

f  There  were  a  few  apples  in  the  boats  belonging  to  A.  W.  Put 
nam  of  Belpre'. 


222  APPENDIX. 

Ten  men  went  out,  and  looked  about ; 

A  hardy  set  of  fellows  ; 
Some  hid  in  holes,  behind  the  coals, 

And  some  behind  the  bellows. 

The  Cor'ner*  swore,  the  western  shore, 

He  saw  with  muskets  bristle ; 
Some  stamp'd  the  ground ; — 'twas  cannon  sound, 

They  heard  the  grape-shot  whistle. 

The  Deputy,  mounted  "Old  Bay," 

When  first  he  heard  the  rattle, 
Then  changed  his  course,  "  great  men  are  scarce, 

I'd  better  keep  from  battle." 

The  Generalf  flew,  to  meet  the  crew, 

His  jacket  flying  loose,  sirs, 
Instead  of  sword,  he  seized  his  board ; — 

Instead  of  hat,  his  goose,  sirs. 

11  Tyler's"  he  cried,  "on  'tother  side, 

Your  spikes  will  never  do  it, 
The  cannon's  bore  will  hold  some  more," 
Then  thrust  his  goose  into  it. 

Sol  raised  his  head,  cold  spectres  fled ; 

Each  man  resumed  his  courage ; 
Captain  O'Flan  dismissed  each  man 

To  breakfast  on  cold  porridge. 


Joel  Bowen.  f  Buell  was  a  tailor  by  trade. 


BRIEF  OF  BLENNEEHASSETT.  223 


IV. 


BRIEF  OP  BLENNERHASSETT. 

UNITED  STATES  or  AMERICA  ^      BRIEF   on   behalf   of   Harman 

*"•  f  Blennerhassett,   confined    in    the 

HARMAN  BLENNEEHASSETT.  J  penitentiary   at  Richmond,    Va., 

under  an  indictment  for  high  trea 
son. 

CASE. 

Introduction  to  Prisoner  first  became  acquainted  with  Aaron 
Burr  by  a  voluntary  and  unsolicited  visit  made 
by  A.  B.  to  prisoner  at  his  late  residence  on  the  Ohio,  in  the 
spring  of  1805.  Col.  Burr  arrived  about  nightfall.  He  par 
ticipated  during  the  visit  in  the  general  conversation  of  the 
company ;  had  no  private  interview  or  business  with  the  pri 
soner,  and  he  took  leave  about  eleven  o'clock  at  night,  with  his 
companion,  Mrs.  Shaw,  to  pursue  his  voyage  down  the  river. 
2.  Some  time  in  the  beginning  of  December  following,  pri 
soner,  on  his  return  from  Baltimore,  received  a  letter  from 
Col.  Burr,  couched  in  polite  language,  and  expressing  a  regret 
at  not  having  had  an  opportunity  of  improving  personal  ac 
quaintance  with  prisoner,  owing  to  the  absence  of  the  latter 
from  home. 

At  this  time  a  wish  on  the  part  of  the  pri- 
Substance    of  .  ,  .  .  „,  . 

prisoner's       soner  to   improve   his  pecuniary  affairs,  com- 

first  letter  to    bining  with  a  natural  desire   to   cultivate  an 
acquaintance  by  which,  he  justly  thought,  he 


224  APPENDIX. 

might  so  much  improve  his  own  talents  and  promote  the  in 
terest  of  his  children,  led  him,  after  some  reflection,  to  write 
the  first  letter  he  ever  addressed  to  the  late  Yice-President, 
expressive  of  a  desire  to  be  honoured  with  a  hope  of  being 
admitted  into  a  participation  of  any  speculation  which  might, 
during  his  tour  through  the  country,  have  presented  itself  to 
Col.  Burr's  judgment  as  worthy  to  engage  his  talents.  In 
making  this  advance,  prisoner  contemplated  not  only  a  com 
mercial  enterprise  or  land  purchase,  but  a  military  adventure 
was  distinctly  mentioned,  in  which  prisoner  would  engage. 
A  reference,  however,  to  the  original  letter,  or  its  copy  in  pri 
soner's  letter-book,  will  show  that  prisoner  then  considered 
this  government  alive  to  every  sentiment  of  indignation  and 
resentment  that  he  fancied  it  cherished  against  the  Spanish 
Court,  for  acts  of  aggression  and  injustice  committed  by  its 
troops  against  American  citizens  and  the  territories  of  the 
United  States,  and  conduct  by  its  minister  and  immediate 
representative*  at  the  seat  of  government,  little  short  of  di 
rect  insult  upon  our  Executive.  Under  such  impressions, 
prisoner  conceived  the  inevitable  necessity  of  a  speedy  war 
with  Spain,  and  observed  in  his  letter  to  Col.  Burr,  that  in 
the  event  of  a  Spanish  War,  in  which  case  the  government 
and  country  would  call  upon  the  talents,  &c.,  of  Col.  Burr, 
the  prisoner  would  engage  with  him,  in  any  enterprise,  to  be 
undertaken  for  the  subjugation  of  any  of  the  Spanish  do 
minions. 

Burr's  second  visit  to        3.  This  overture,  on  the  part  of  the 

the  island.  prisoner,  procured  him  a  visit  from  Col. 

Burr  at  prisoner's  late  residence,  on  the  Ohio,  some  time  in 

the  month  of  August,  1806.     Col.  Burr  spent  but  one  night 

*  Alluding  to  Onis,  against  whom  a  large  portion  of  the  people 
of  the  United  States  were  deeply  incensed. 


BRIEF  OF  BLENNERHASSETT.  225 

in  prisoner's  house.  Prisoner  having  next  day  rode  with  him 
to  Marietta,  within  a  mile  of  which  place  he,  the  prisoner, 
took  leave  of  the  colonel,  (then  on  his  way  to  Chillicothe,) 
and  returned  home.  Col.  Burr  arrived  on  the  island  about 
noon,  in  company  with  Col.  De  Pestre  and  Mr.  Dudley  Wood- 
bridge,  jun.,  with  whom  Col.  Burr  had  a  private  interview  in 
the  library,  which  was  terminated  fully  an  hour  and  a  half 
before  dinner.  Some  time  after  dinner,  Col.  De  Pestre  and 
Mr.  Woodbridge  having  left  the  table,  the  subjects  of  con 
versation  which  had  been  taken  up  in  the  library,  and  there 
at  the  utmost  dwelt  upon  for  twenty-five  minutes,  were  re 
sumed,  and  further  considered,  during  not  more  than  half  an 
hour;  after  which  Col.  Burr  and  the  prisoner  joined  the  com 
pany  in  the  hall,  when  the  conversation  became  and  continued 
general  till  bed-time. 
Went  with  him  to  Ma-  4.  Prisoner  remained  at  Marietta  about 

rieita,  where   there    twenty-four  hours,  from  which,  deducting 

was  no  time  for  or-  J  .         ; 

ganizing  treason  or    the  part  of  time  devoted  to  sleep,  to  the 

military  expeditions,  occupation  of  Col.  Burr  in  commission 
ing  or  contracting  with  D.  "Woodbridge,  to  provide  for  him 
those  boats  and  provisions  that  have  been  seized,  under  the 
orders  of  the  government,  receiving  the  visits  of  various  per 
sons  that  waited  him  at  the  tavern,  &c.,  an  estimate  may  be 
easily  formed  of  how  short  a  time  the  prisoner  could  have 
availed  himself,  to  digest  the  projects  or  to  contrive  the  means 
with  A.  Burr  of  executing  treason  against  the  United  States, 
or  of  founding  empires  in  other  countries. 
Nature  of  such  com-  5-  From  such  opportunities,  however, 

munications  as  op-    as  the  prisoner  derived  during  all  the 


A.  B.  actually  to    time,  and  the  disclosures  therein  made  to 

him  with  rapidity,  but  also  with  reserve, 

he  was  led  to  conclude,  that  the  sentiments  of  a  respectable 


226 


APPENDIX. 


Sentiments  of  the  peo-    majority  of  the  people  in  the  Orleans  and 
pie  in  Orleans  and    •»»-.    ...    m      ...  ..     -_    ,    , 

Mississippi  Territo-    Mississippi  Territories    were    disaffected 

ries.    Agitated  and    to  the  present  government,  to  a  degree 

affect  the  interests  of  no  very  distant  period,  produce  a  revolt 

fry  Jnd'mi  ht^n-    wMch  W°uld  Probably  cal1  in  tlie  *&  <>f 
duce  an  examination    some  foreign  succour  to  support  it. 
by   the  people  into         That.  Jn  ^^  an  event    the  gtateg  an(j 
the  grounds  of  their    _      .       . 

connection  with  the  Territories  west  of  the  Mountains  would 
Atlantic  States,  and  lbe  placed  in  a  dilemma,  out  of  which 
probably  produce  a  ,  ,  , .  .  .  ,  .  .  . 

separation.  A.  B.  ^eJ  should  withdraw,  as  they  might  be 
had  no  concern  with  governed  by  an  Eastern  or  Western  as 
cendency  of  interests :  that  it  was  the 
colonel's  opinion  the  discontents,  particularly  in  the  Territory 
of  Orleans,  would  induce  the  Western  country  to  examine  the 
grounds  and  interests  of  its  present  connection  with  the  At 
lantic  States,  and  probably  induce  a  separation;  that  he,  A.  B., 
had  no  further  concern  with  these  things  than  in  a  specula 
tive  way ;  but  that  he  thought,  as  well  as  the  prisoner,  that 
the  people  should  be  informed  on  the  subject  before  they 
might  be  drawn  unawares  to  a  crisis  for  which  they  might  not 
be  prepared. 

That  a  separation  of  the  Western  from  the  Eastern  States 

was  an  event  spoken  of  and  apprehended, 
Such  an  event  spoken      ,  .  -.  /,  ,    -,  /. ,  T 

of,  as  sooner  expect-  at  the  seat  of  government,  by  some  of  the 
ed  than  desired,  by  heads  of  Department,  which  the  malad- 


of  New  Orleans  dis-    about  much  sooner  than  was  desired  or 

gusted  to  a  degree    expected  :  and  finally,  the  people  of  New 
that  might  induce  in         \  ^  * 

Orleans  were  so  much  disgusted  with  the 


beginning  of  revolt, 
a  seizure  of  bank, 


conduct  of   government  towards  them 
selves,  and  on  Spanish  affairs,  that  he 

should  not  be  surprised  to  hear  of  their  beginning  a  revolt  by 

seizing  the  Bank  and  Custom-house  there. 


BRIEF  OF  BLENNERHASSETT.  227 

MexicanSociety  wanted       He  spoke  of  a  society  of  young  men  of 
he  de-    tliat  city>  °Penly  denominated  the  Mexi- 


clined.  can  Society,  seizing  and  shipping  some 

French  cannon  lying  there,  for  an  expe 
dition  against  Mexico.  When  at  Orleans  they  had  solicited  him 
to  lead,  but  he  had  declined  to  be  concerned  in. 

6.  In  the  course  of  such  private  conversation  as  opportunity 
offered  the  prisoner  to  have  with  Aaron  Burr,  whilst  on  the 
Burr  would  not  tell    is^d.  and  at  Marietta  in  the  said  month 

Bknnerhassett    his    of  August,  1806,  prisoner  naturally  en- 
exact  plans  at  all.       deavoured  to  elicit  from  him  a  disclosure 

of  some  specific  project,  by  referring  to  the  letter  of  the  pri 
soner  whereof  the  substance  is  set  forth  in  the  second  para 
graph.  But  from  a  reserve  and  conciseness  observable  on  the 
part  of  Col.  Burr  on  such  solicitation,  and  from  entire  confi 
dence  in  the  honour  and  judgment  of  the  Ex-Vice-President, 
the  prisoner  forbore  to  urge  particular  inquiries,  that  seemed 
to  be  displeasing  to  him,  from  their  tendency  to  a  develop 
ment  of  the  details  of  his  objects  and  his  means  of  effecting 
them. 

7.  Your  client,  however,  did  not  take  leave  of  Col.  Burr 
without  matter  of  some  satisfaction  of  his  curiosity  and  in 
terest,  sufficient  to  engage  his  serious  reflections  on  the  expe 
diency  of  adopting  or  avoiding  that  concern,  which  now  seemed 
to  be  proffered  to  the  election  of  the  prisoner  in  his  interests. 
For,  after  having  made  the  prisoner  the  general  remarks  set 
forth  in  the  fifth  article,  with  the  contingency  of  which  Col. 
Burr  declared  he  had  no  concern,  but  which  would  not  be 
adverse  to  his  own  particular  views  whether  they  should  pre 
cede  or  follow  them,  he  then  signified  to  your  client,  "that 
Expulsion    of    Spa-    tne  expulsion  of  the  Spaniards  from  the 

niardsfrom  Ameri-    American  territory  then  violated  by  them, 
ory'   or    or  even  an  invasion  of  Mexico,  would  be 


228  APPENDIX. 

even    invasion    of  very  pleasing  to   the  administration,  if 

Mexican  States  by  ...            .      °        .,.        „        ,      .  . 

A.  B.  to  be  pro-  either  or  both  could  be  effected  without  a 

bably  agreeable  to  war  being  declared  against  Spain,  which 

government,  if  either  ,  ,    ,              .  ,    ,          ,                          .,  , 

could    be    effected  would  ®e  avoided  as  long  as  possible, 

without     declaring  from  parsimonious   motives  on  the  one 

wTichffm£htSoffend  hand>  and  dread  of  France  on  the  other; 

France.  although  the  then  existing  circumstances 
would,  to  a  probable  certainty,  occasion  its  commencement 
before  he  should  engage  in  any  operation." 

But  such  a  war  must  Thus  led  to  believe  the   government 


his  plans.  they  were  kept  secret  till  their  execution 

should  be  legalized  by  a  declaration  of  war,  the   prisoner 
tendered  his  services  to  Col.  Burr  generally. 

8.  At  this  time,  your  client  neither  sought  nor  received  from 
Col.  Burr  any  information  whatever  of  the  use  or  destination 
intended  for  the  boats  and  provisions  mentioned  to  have  been 
contracted  for  with  Dudley  Woodbridge,  jun.,  Art.  4,  with 
which  the  prisoner  had  no  concern,  further  than  as  he  was  a 
constituted  member  of  the  house  of  Dudley  Woodbridge  &  Co., 
at  Marietta,  save  that  the  prisoner  informed  Mr.  Woodbridge, 
when  the  latter   seemed  doubtful  of  the  sufficiency  of  Col. 
Burr's  credit  at  New  York,  that  the  prisoner  would  indemnify 
the  company  for  all  disbursements  made  on  account  of  the 
boats  and  provisions,  in  the  event  of  the  bills  drawn  for  the 
same  on  New  York  being  dishonoured. 

9.  Some  time  in  the  month  of  August  or  September,  1806, 
your  client,  reflecting  on  the  information  and  views  disclosed 
to  him,  as  aforesaid,  by  Col.  Burr,  conceived  the  design  of 
Design  of  publishing    publishing  in  the  Ohio  Gazette,  a  series 

the  Querist.  Of  short  essays,  calling  the  attention  of 
the  people  of  the  Western  country  to  a  subject  that  might 
engage  their  interests.  Three  or  four  numbers  of  these  papers 


BRIEF  OF  BLENNERHASSETT.  229 

were  published,  exhibiting  succinctly  a  general  and  relative 
view,  in  a  political  aspect,  of  the  Union  and  the  Western 
country,  and  setting  forth  motives  of  right  and  expediency 
which  should  induce  the  country  west  of  the  mountains  to 
seek  a  separation  from  the  Atlantic  States  in  a  peaceable  and 
constitutional  manner;  if  they  should  adopt  the  sentiments 
of  the  writer,  who  took  the  signature  of  Querist.  The  author, 
To  prepare  the  people  in  making  this  essay  on  the  public  mind 

£frC*S£Tt  iu  that  1uarto>had  "0  view  of  aggran- 
terests,  dizement  for  himself,  or  of  a  political 

establishment  for  Col.  Burr  in  the  Western  country,  who 
(Burr)  assured  him  he  neither  desired  nor  would  accept  any 
thing  within  the  United  States.  Your  client  was  actuated  to 
make  the  publication  by  two  motives  only,  viz.,  to  prepare 
the  country  by  a  proper  direction  of  its  interests  and  energies 
for  a  crisis  sooner  or  later  approaching  them,  not  from  the 
views  or  operations  of  Col.  Bun*,  but  from  the  state  of  things 
on  the  Mississippi ;  at  which  their  espousal  of  an  eastern  or 
western  ascendency  would  determine  their  future  prosperity, 
and  to  mask  designs  and  to  divert  public  attention  from  scru- 

against       Mexico,    tj      j  to  contingent  plans  or  operations 

which    whilst    kept          J,  .  5 .        r  r 

secret,  icould proba-    against  Spam,  which,  whilst  kept  secret, 

Uy  not  be  impeded   government  would   not  disapprove,  but 

by  government,   as    °  Ai 

was   the    case    of    when  exposed,  it  would   be   obliged  to 

Ogden  and  Smith,  frustrate,  as  it  had  done  at  New  York  in 
the  case  of  Ogden  and  Smith. 

10.  With  these  views,  the  prisoner  pledged  his  honour  to 
Fairlamb  the  printer,  Fairlamb,  the  printer  of  the  Gazette,  that 

guarantied  safe  to  he  should  publish  nothing  that  would 
*u  subject  him  to  legal  penalty,  and  the  pri 

soner  would  avow  himself  the  author  whenever  it  might 
become  necessary  to  exonerate  the  printer  from  any  responsi 
bility.  In  the  same  spirit  and  for  the  same  purposes,  prisoner 

20 


230  APPENDIX. 

communicated  his  design,  and  read  the  manuscript  of  one  of 
the  first  numbers,  to  John  and  Alexander  Henderson,  who 
solemnly  pledged  their  joint  honours  to  the  prisoner,  under 
the  sanction  of  hospitality  in  the  house  of  said  Alexander, 
never  to  disclose  the  name  of  the  author  or  the  communication 
he  then  made  them,  to  the  purport  and  intent  that  are  set 
forth  in  the  fifth  and  ninth  articles. 

11.  Some  time  in  the  month  of  October,  1806,  the  prisoner 
made  a  visit  to  Lexington,  Kentucky,  with  views  of  further 
certifying  himself  of  the  permissive  progress  of  Aaron  Burr's 
speculations,  so  far  as  regarded  his  own  exertions  or  the  ob- 
Visit  for  further  in-  servation  of  government.  During  pri- 
sight  into  Burr's  goner's  stay  in  that  country,  where  he 
PwTerenB°urr  waTac-  remained  a  fortnight  or  three  weeks,  he 
quiring  much popu-  observed  Burr's  popularity  daily  increas 
ing;  heard  of  no  jealousy  or  suspicions 
of  his  views  or  designs  on  the  part  of  the  government  or  its 
agents,  nor  from  any  other  quarter,  till  a  messenger  had  been 
sent  to  him  express  from  home,  stating  to  him  that  the  people 
of  Wood  county  had  entered  into  communication  with  the 
President  or  Governor  of  Virginia,  by  forwarding  to  those 
authorities  memorials  or  addresses  expressive  of  alarm  for  the 
safety  of  the  country  and  their  liberties,  which  they  probably 
represented  were  likely  to  be  endangered  by  Col.  Burr  or  the 
prisoner,  of  which  documents  the  latter  has  never  seen  origi 
nals  or  copies,  or  of  any  answers  thereto;  that  the  inhabitants, 
at  the  instance  and  under  the  influence  of  Hugh  Phelps,  and 
Alexander  and  John  Henderson,  had  organized  a  volunteer 
battalion  of  three  companies,  which  they  had  armed  with  the 
arms  of  the  militia,  that  they  had  a  general  muster  during 
the  prisoner's  absence  from  home,  and  were  expected,  by  the 
report  of  Peter  Taylor  and  others,  on  the  evening  of  the  day 
of  the  muster,  to  land  on  the  island  where  the  prisoner's 


BRIEF  OF  BLENNERHASSETT.  231 

family  then  dwelt,  and  burn  his  house ;  that  in  all  probability 
the  prisoner  and  Col.  Burr  would  be  shot,  if  either  returned 
to  the  island ;  and  that  some  kiln-dried  corn  then  preparing 
at  the  island,  would  be  seized  by  the  said  volunteers  as  soon 
as  it  was  put  up ;  Dr.  Joseph  Spencer,  of  said  county,  having 
in  the  meantime  declared  that  he  and  others  regretted  that 
they  had  been  obliged,  through  fear,  to  sign  the  resolution 
for  organizing  the  said  volunteer  association,  which  some 
others  had  persisted  to  do. 

12.  Agitated  by  this  intelligence,  set  out  for  home  from 
Lexington,  Kentucky,  and  reached  the  island  between  one 
and  two  o'clock  on  the  third  of  November,  1806.  Reflecting 
on  his  way  that  he  should  be  unprovided  at  home  with  any 
adequate  means  of  defence  to  protect  his  family  and  property 
against  the  menaced  outrages  of  a  lawless  multitude  with 
arms  in  their  hands,  he  was  led  to  call  on  Dr.  Bennet  to  learn 
such  further  particulars  as  he  might  have  been  informed  of, 
since  the  express  left  the  island  for  Lexington ;  and  to  provide 
him  (the  prisoner)  with  such  aid  as  the  Dr.  could  enable  him 
to  procure  from  his  county,  against  any  illegal  and  unwar 
rantable  attack  from  the  people  of  Wood  county.  To  efiect 
this  latter  object,  the  prisoner  freely  entered  into  a  statement 
of  the  innocence  and  legality  of  every  step  the  prisoner  should 
take,  in  virtue  of  his  concern  in  the  speculations  of  Aaron 
Burr,  observing,  that  the  latter  had  completed  a  large  land 
purchase  of  Col.  Lynch ;  offered  to  the  prisoner  such  partici 
pation  in  the  purchase  as  he  might  desire ;  and  expected  the 
prisoner,  with  such  associates  as  might  wish  to  purchase  or 
procure  donations,  would  leave  home  for  the  country  where 
the  lands  lay,  on  the  "Washita  or  the  Red  River,  in  the  begin 
ning  of  the  ensuing  month;  that,  in  a  political  sense,  Col. 
Burr,  as  well  as  himself,  abhorred  and  abjured  all  intentions 
their  enemies  were  imputing  to  them,  of  undertaking  enter- 


232  APPENDIX. 

prises  illegal  or  adverse  to  the  United  States ;  and  declaring 
that  neither  of  them  ever  had,  or  would  have,  any  concern 
with  the  means  of  effecting  a  division  of  the  Union,  than  a 
readiness  to  deliver  their  opinion  in  favour  of  the  right  of  the 
people  to  effect  such  a  measure  whenever  the  time  might  ar 
rive  which  should  render  it  expedient.  The  prisoner,  then 
calling  the  doctor's  attention  to  his  alarms  for  his  family  and 
property  on  the  island,  from  personal  enmity  borne  him  by 
the  people  of  Wood,  solicited  the  doctor  to  hasten  any  persons 
he  might  know  in  his  neighbourhood,  who  would'  wish  to 
emigrate  with  the  prisoner,  to  join  him  as  soon  as  possible  on 
the  island,  where  he  did  not  know  how  soon  he  might  need 
their  assistance  to  protect  him  from  such  outrages  as  are 
stated  to  have  been  then  apprehended  in  Article  11.  To 
these  observations,  made  chiefly  during  a  ride  of  five  miles, 
which  the  doctor  was  induced  to  take,  for  the  sake  of  accom 
panying  the  prisoner  as  far  as  the  ferry,  the  doctor  was 
pleased  to  reply,  that  if  he  could  dispose  of  his  place  without 
too  great  a  sacrifice,  he  should  be  willing  to  emigrate  him 
self;  that  he  had  no  doubt  it  would  suit  many  persons  in  his 
neighbourhood,  to  whom  he  would  speak  at  the  muster  which 
was  to  be  held  in  a  few  days ;  that  he  would  address  to  me 
such  as  he  should  find  disposed,  in  the  manner  prisoner  had 
directed  him,  i.  e.,  provided  with  rifles  and  blankets. 

13.  The  prisoner  took  leave  of  the  doctor  at  the  ferry, 
about  two  o'clock,  p.  M.,  on  Sunday  the  second  of  November, 
and  reached  the  island  on  the  following  day.  On  his  arrival, 
as  well  as  on  the  road  between  Dr.  Bennet's  and  his  own 
house,  he  found  the  apprehension  of  an  attack  on  the  island 
from  the  point  of  the  Little  Kanawha,  the  head-quarters  of 
the  volunteers,  had  by  no  means  subsided ;  and  was  informed 
an  attempt  would  be  made  on  his  person  that  evening.  To 
meet  this  contingency,  the  prisoner  prepared  some  house-arms 


BRIEF  OF  BLENNERHASSETT.  233 

lie  had  by  him  during  ten  years ;  and  with  a  view  to  prevent 
it,  he  condescended  to  conciliate  Mr.  Phelps,  the  commander 
of  the  battalion,  by  addressing  him  a  letter  to  thank  him  for 
a  message  he  had  sent  to  prisoner's  wife  some  time  during  her 
husband's  absence  from  home,  for  the  purpose  of  lulling  her 
apprehensions  from  the  volunteers.  Prisoner  also  solicited  an 
interview  with  him,  so  that  he  might  remove  whatever  mis 
conception  of  the  prisoner's  conduct  or  intentions  might  have 
been  propagated  among  his  neighbours.  But  aware  of  Col. 
Phelps' s  predilection  for  jobbing  and  speculation,  which  is  no 
torious  to  all  who  know  him,  and  in  order  to  procure  an  inter 
view  with  a  person  who  had  not  been  in  prisoner's  house  for 
nearly  seven  years,  by  which  the  prisoner  might  induce  the 
influence  of  said  Phelps  to  moderate  the  passions  and  to  allay 
the  jealousies  of  the  ignorant  and  misguided — the  prisoner 
thought  it  necessary  to  hint  to  him  obscurely  a  desire  to  pro 
mote  his  interest,  by  some  proposition  which  might  engage 
his  attention. 

14.  The  letter  might,  or  might  not  have  had  the  first  effect 
designed  by  it,  viz.,  that  of  putting  off  the  assault  apprehended 
that  evening  on  the  island ;  but  it  occasioned  a  visit  there, 
after  a  lapse  of  three  or  four  days,  from  Col.  Phelps,  with 
whom  the  prisoner  had  a  private  interview,  which  was  opened 
by  the  prisoner  with  a  tender  of  thanks  for  the  colonel's  mes 
sage  to  Mrs.  Blennerhassett,  during  her  husband's  absence. 
The  prisoner  then  affected  to  ridicule  the  reports  which  he 
had  heard  of  the  meditated  injuries  threatened  his  family  and 
property  from  the  Point;*  suggested  to  the  colonel  that  he 
suspected  the  other  party  in  the  country  (under  the  influence 
of  the  Hendersons)  was  now  becoming  so  strong  that  its 
leaders  would  probably  overturn  the  colonel's  interest,  on 

*  The  present  site  of  Parkersburg,  Va.,  used  to  be  called  "The 
Point."— W.  H.  S. 

20* 


234  APPENDIX. 

which  alone  they  had  hitherto  depended  for  whatever  popu 
larity  they  had  acquired,  and  cautioned  the  colonel  against 
any  coalition  or  co-operation  they  might  seek  with  him,  in 
exciting  clamour  or  suspicion  against  the  views  or  intentions 
of  Aaron  Burr  or  his  friends,  which  the  past  conduct  of  the 
Hendersons  towards  him  should  induce  him  to  avoid.  Col. 
Phelps,  in  reply,  complained  much  of  the  ill-treatment  he  had 
received  from  the  said  Hendersons.  Prisoner  stated  his  con 
cern  with  Aaron  Burr  in  a  land  purchase;  informing  the 
colonel  that  he,  the  prisoner,  solicited  or  invited  no  person  to 
join  in  the  emigration,  though  many  had  voluntarily  offered 
to  do  so,  but  added  that  if  the  colonel  wished  a  concern  for 
himself  or  his  friends,  that  he  might  look  to  the  example  of 
General  Jackson,  and  other  characters  of  distinction,  who,  the 
prisoner  understood,  were  going  to  join  in  the  settlement  with 
many  associates ;  that  as  to  the  rumours  and  suspicions  that 
had  been  circulated  of  Col.  Burr,  or  his  friends,  which  ac 
cused  them  of  engaging  in  any  thing  against  the  laws  of  the 
United  States,  such  were  wholly  groundless :  but  it  was  not 
unlikely  that  the  proximity  of  the  purchase  to  that  part  of 
the  country  where  an  engagement  had  already  taken  place,  or 
might  soon  be  expected,  between  General  Wilkinson  and  the 
Spaniards,  would  engage  Col.  Burr  and  his  friends  in  some 
of  the  earliest  adventures  of  the  war.  General  Jackson  being 
already  prepared  to  march  with  1000  or  1500  of  his  Ten 
nessee  militia,  whenever  he  should  think  himself  authorized 
by  the  orders  or  wishes  of  the  government  to  put  that  body 
in  motion.  Col.  Phelps  received  this  information  with  de 
clining  to  embark  himself,  on  account  of  his  family  and  the 
unsettled  state  of  his  affairs ;  but  said  he  had  no  doubt  many 
young  men  from  Wood  county  would  be  glad  to  go  with  the 
prisoner,  to  whom  he  (the  colonel)  would  recommend  the 
speculation,  as  he  might  have  opportunities.  The  prisoner 


BRIEF  OF  BLENNERHASSETT.  235 

converged  with  the  colonel  on  no  other  topic,  except  some 
general  propositions  for  renting  the  prisoner's  place  by  the 
colonel's  son-in-law,  Thomas  Creel. 

15.  The  prisoner,  however,  still  continuing  to  receive  daily 
assurances  that  the  people  from  the  Point  were  determined  to 
seize  and  destroy  his  corn  on  the  island,  as  well  as  the  boats 
building  on  the  Muskingum  river,  which  were  to  convey  his 
family  and  friends,  with  their  provisions  and  necessaries  to 
the  Mississippi,  thought  it  prudent  to  write  to  Dr.  Bennet, 
requesting  him  to  lend  him  ten  or  twenty  guns  for  protection. 
The  object  of  the  prisoner  being  to  resist  illegal  violence 
offered  to  him  and  his  friends  in  their  legal  pursuits,  he  con 
ceived  he  might  correctly  borrow  rifles,  the  private  property 
of  individuals,  or  even  the  arms  of  the  militia,  whilst  they 
were  not  wanted  between  days  of  muster,  to  enable  him  to 
resist  an  apprehended  outrage  on  the  laws  of  the  country,  in 
the  persons  of  the  prisoner  and  his  friends.   The  doctor  replied, 
that  the  arms  of  the  militia  were  in  the  charge  and  under  the 
control  of  the  colonel,  and  he  could  procure  no  others. 

16.  Prisoner  was  occupied  himself  with  preparations  for  his 
removal  with  his  family  and  friends  from  the  island,  which  he 
took  every  public  opportunity  to  declare  would  take  place 
from  the  8th  to  the  10th  of  the  next  month  of  December, 
1806,  generally  telling  the  applicants  who  were  to  go  with 
him,  to  provide  themselves  with  a  rifle  and  blanket,  but  ac 
cepting  the  offers  of  many  as  associates  without  either ;  soli 
citing  no  man,  nor  offering  wages  or  bounties  to  any;  preparing 
and  providing  no  military  stores,  or  implements  of  war  what 
ever — unless  corn-meal,  flour,  whisky,  and  pork  be  received 
as  such — until  the  latter  part  of  November,  when  he  had  an 
interview  with  Mr.  Graham  at  Marietta. 

17.  Your  client,  in  virtue  of  a  slight  acquaintance  he  had 
formed  in  Kentucky,  in  1801,  with  Mr.  G-,  and  under  an  hn- 


236  APPENDIX. 

pression  that  he  also  was  concerned  in  some  of  the  specula 
tions  of  Aaron  Burr,  visited  him  soon  after  his  arrival,  and 
was  received  with  much  ceremony  and  coldness.  Mr.  Gr. 
described  the  government  as  embarrassed  by  the  variety  and 
contradictory  matter  of  statements  which  had  been  forwarded 
from  various  parts  of  the  western  country,  of  the  equipments 
then  providing  on  the  Ohio  and  Muskingum,  some  represent 
ing  them  more,  others  less  extensive,  but  all  conveying  a  sus 
picion  that  they  were  destined  for  an  attack  on  New  Orleans, 
an  invasion  of  Mexico,  or  for  transporting  emigrants,  with 
their  effects,  to  Col.  Burr's  Washita  purchase ;  that,  however, 
their  real  destination  was  probably  New  Orleans  or  Mexico, 
rather  than  the  Washita.  Mr.  Gr.  then  observed,  as  he  said, 
in  an  official  character,  that  he  had  it  in  charge  to  collect  such 
information  as  might  enable  the  government  to  stop  any  mili 
tary  expedition,  if  such  was  intended ;  and  in  an  official  cha 
racter  he  added,  he  would  advise  prisoner,  if  he  was  concerned 
in  such  designs,  to  withdraw  from  them. 

18.  To  these  observations,  Mr.  Gr.  was  answered  by  the 
prisoner,  that  the  latter  could  not  suppose  the  government 
disposed  to  molest  individuals  not  offending  against  any  law, 
and  avowing  a  lawful  object  of  their  pursuits;  that  the  pri 
soner,  although  he  had  no  objection  to  avow  and  declare  to 
Mr.  Gr.,  as  he  had  done  to  every  other  person,  that  he  was 
concerned  with  Col.  Burr  in  a  land  purchase,  whither  he 
should  undertake  a  journey  on  the  8th  or  10th  of  December, 
with  such  friends,  from  the  number  of  sixty  to  one  hundred, 
as  might  be  ready  to  accompany  him ;  would  not  condescend 
to  answer  interrogatories  tending  to  charge  him  with  being 
concerned  in  any  illegal  enterprise ;  that  the  commencement 
and  progress  of  this  journey  should  be  innocent  and  peaceful, 
unless  it  were  interrupted  by  illegal  insult  or  violence,  which 
should  be  repelled  with  those  rifles  with  which  he  had  gene- 


BEIEP  OF  BLENNERHASSETT.  237 

rally  directed  his  friends  to  provide  themselves ;  and  that  he 
hoped  the  government,  or  its  agents,  had  no  wish  or  design 
to  commit  a  wanton  trespass  upon  men  peaceably  pursuing 
speculations,  which,  because,  forsooth,  their  details  were  not 
exposed  to  the  world,  (owing  to  the  fear  of  jealousy  and  ma 
lice  of  individuals  who  would  not  be  permitted  to  participate 
in  them,)  had  invoked  the  suspicion  of  government. 

19.  Previous  to  making  these  observations  to  Mr.  G-.,  your 
client  showed  him  a  letter,  of  which  he  offered  him  a  copy, 
from  Col.  Burr,  dated  from  Lexington  or  Frankfort  in  Ken 
tucky,  acquainting  the  prisoner  with  the  institution  of  a  cri 
minal  prosecution  against  him  (Burr)  by  Mr.  Davis,  the 
United  States  Attorney  for  the  Kentucky  District,  where  Col. 
Burr  observed  the  detention  he  should  thereby  suffer,  would 
retard  the  establishment  of  the  Washita  settlement.  Mr.  Gr. 
dined  in  company  with  your  client  the  same  day.  At  table 
he  was  assured,  on  inquiry  made  by  him,  that  your  client 
would  take  his  wife  and  family  with  him  down  the  river. 
After  dinner,  your  client  invited  Mr.  Gr.  to  his  room,  where 
he  observed,  he  had  called  him  up  again  to  offer  him  a  copy 
of  the  aforesaid  letter  from  Col.  Burr,  and  to  trouble  him  to 
state  over  again,  in  order  to  prevent  any  misunderstanding 
of  the  intentions  of  government,  whatever  official  warnings  he 
had  to  give,  that  prisoner  might  communicate  them  to  Col. 
Burr  and  his  friends,  whose  duty  it  would  be  to  regulate  their 
conduct  thereby.  Mr.  Gr.  then  replied,  that  the  prisoner 
might  inform  Col.  Burr  "the  constituted  authorities  of  the 
country  would  be  expected  on  the  part  of  the  general  govern 
ment,  to  stop  his  boats,  if  they  carried  an  unusual  number  of 
men,  armed  in  an  unusual  manner/'  Your  client  then  asked 
him  whether  more  or  less  single  men,  or  married  men,  accom 
panying  your  client,  to  the  number  of  from  sixty  to  one  hun 
dred,  in  sixteen  or  seventeen  boats — generally  taking  their 


238  APPENDIX. 

rifles  with  them,  but  not  their  families  at  such  a  season  of 
the  year,  would  constitute  such  a  party,  and  armed  in  such  a 
manner,  as  would  expose  them  to  the  obstruction  he  threat 
ened  ?  To  this  he  answered,  "  He  supposed  not,  though  it  ap 
peared  unusual  and  suspicious  for  such  numbers  to  go  so  far 
to  settle  a  new  country  without  their  families." 

20.  The  prisoner  now  thought  he  had  taken  leave  of  this 
personage,  perfectly  understanding  both  himself  and  the 
government.  On  tlie  contrary,  your  client,  on  his  return  in 
a  day  or  two  to  Marietta,  learned  with  surprise  that  this 
envoy-extraordinary  of  executive  vigilance  could  not  delay  a 
moment  to  cool  the  zeal  of  his  mission,  by  plunging  it  red-hot 
into  those  intrigues  which  your  client's  letter  to  Phelps,  &c. 
had  lately  somewhat  stagnated  in  Wood  county.  Laved  and 
refreshed  in  these  pellucid  waters,  he  follows  their  meanders 
in  quest  of  that  fountain  from  which  they  issue,  which,  like 
the  source  of  Alcinous,  is  hid  in  mystery  and  darkness.  Ar 
rived  at  the  Temple  erected  to  Honour  and  Hospitality,  in 
Beech  Park,*  on  the  banks  of  the  Little  Kanawha,  he  is  re 
ceived  in  the  vestibule  by  John  and  Alexander  Henderson, 
the  consecrated  ministers  of 'those  divinities.  A  libation  is 
now  ordained  to  ancient  friendship  and  the  household  gods. 
Another  is  next  proposed  to  the  tutelary  deities  of  the  place, 
"Hold!"  cries  the  envoy  of  suspicion,  "the  rites  of  Honour 
and  Hospitality  may  be  administered  by  their  votaries  in 
these  sequestered  wilds.  But  I  will  never  participate  in  such 
mummery  before  that  altar  on  which  you  have  sacrificed  to 
treason  and  to  Burr  !"  His  brother  priests  are  now  dismayed 
and  almost  petrified.  "Yes  !"  continues  the  ambassador,  "the 
safety  of  the  State  demands  a  greater  sacrifice  to  liberty. 

*  Alluding  to  the  house  of  Henderson,  the  chief  witaess  of  the 
government  at  the  trial  of  Burr. 


BRIEF  OF  BLENNERHASSETT.  239 

Now  purge  ye  of  the  charge  committed  to  your  keeping,  of 
all  the  crimes  intended  to  be  perpetrated  against  your  country/' 
In  vain  the  distracted  brothers  declare,  "No  secrets  of  a 
dangerous  nature  were  intrusted  to  their  sanctum — they  were 
innocent  and  submitted  also  by  him  who  trusted  them,  to 
sanction  in  the  breast  of  an  aged  parent."  "Say  you  parent, 
innocent  secrets,  and  submitted  for  sanction  to  the  breast  of  a 
parent  ?  "Why  not  then  disclose  them  to  the  parent  of  the 
State.  I  am  his  minister  and  will  take  charge  of  them  !" 

21.  Your  client  hopes  the  last  paragraph  may  not  dis 
please,  by  its  length  or  obscurity.  The  style  he  has  there 
fallen  into  was  insensibly  suggested  and  protracted  by  his  re 
flections  on  the  intelligence  he  received  from  Morgan  Neville, 
Esquire,*  that  it  cost  Mr.  Secretary  Graham  no  little  labour 
to  work  the  Hendersons  up  to  break  the  seal  of  that  Honour 
and  Hospitality  which  the  prisoner  imagined  they  would  pre 
serve  inviolate,  when  he  made  confidential  communications  to 
them,  and  through  them  to  their  father,  to  the  effect  set  forth 
in  the  5th  and  9th  Articles. —  Wallace's  "  Blennerhassett." 

*  The  elegant  author  of  "  Mike  Fink,  or  the  last  of  the  Boatmen." 


THE  END. 


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